Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Aberdeen, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.8% of gross income.

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

Aberdeen median rent
$1,932/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Maryland)
$39,452/yr
Rent as % of income
58.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,288, and the 30% rule supports up to $986/mo in rent. Aberdeen's median rent of $1,932 exceeds that threshold by $946/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 101.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Maryland cities have lower median rent than Aberdeen, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Towson, MD
$1,927/mo (58.6% of income)
Rockville, MD
$1,921/mo (58.4% of income)
Pasadena, MD
$1,920/mo (58.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aberdeen

View full rent data for Aberdeen, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Aberdeen, MD?

Median rent in Aberdeen is $1,932 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 58.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Aberdeen?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Aberdeen's current median rent is $1,932/mo, which is $946/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Aberdeen?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 101.9 hours a month to cover Aberdeen's median rent of $1,932.

Where is rent cheaper than Aberdeen for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Towson ($1,927/mo), Rockville ($1,921/mo), Pasadena ($1,920/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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