Can A Chef Afford Rent in Sykesville, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.4% of gross income.

Sykesville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Sykesville median rent
$2,277/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
39.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Sykesville's median rent of $2,277 exceeds that threshold by $545/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 68.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maryland cities have lower median rent than Sykesville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Montgomery Village, MD
$2,275/mo (39.4% of income)
Waldorf, MD
$2,275/mo (39.4% of income)
Annapolis, MD
$2,275/mo (39.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sykesville

View full rent data for Sykesville, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Sykesville, MD?

Median rent in Sykesville is $2,277 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 39.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Sykesville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Sykesville's current median rent is $2,277/mo, which is $545/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Sykesville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 68.4 hours a month to cover Sykesville's median rent of $2,277.

Where is rent cheaper than Sykesville for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Montgomery Village ($2,275/mo), Waldorf ($2,275/mo), Annapolis ($2,275/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Maryland state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Sykesville, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.