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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 92.5% of gross income.

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

Clinton median rent
$3,042/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Maryland)
$39,452/yr
Rent as % of income
92.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,288, and the 30% rule supports up to $986/mo in rent. Clinton's median rent of $3,042 exceeds that threshold by $2,056/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 160.4 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 Clinton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

North Potomac, MD
$3,037/mo (92.4% of income)
North Potomac, MD
$3,035/mo (92.3% of income)
North Potomac, MD
$3,033/mo (92.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clinton

View full rent data for Clinton, MD

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Clinton is $3,042 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 92.5% 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 Clinton?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Clinton's current median rent is $3,042/mo, which is $2,056/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 160.4 hours a month to cover Clinton's median rent of $3,042.

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

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include North Potomac ($3,037/mo), North Potomac ($3,035/mo), North Potomac ($3,033/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 Clinton, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.