Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Brandywine, MD?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 85.7% of gross income.
Brandywine rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).
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 Brandywine, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Brandywine
View full rent data for Brandywine, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Brandywine, MD?
Median rent in Brandywine is $2,817 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 85.7% 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 Brandywine?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Brandywine's current median rent is $2,817/mo, which is $1,831/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Brandywine?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 148.5 hours a month to cover Brandywine's median rent of $2,817.
Where is rent cheaper than Brandywine for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Olney ($2,803/mo), Derwood ($2,797/mo), Derwood ($2,788/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.