Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Derwood, MD?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 84% of gross income.
Derwood 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 Derwood, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Derwood
View full rent data for Derwood, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Derwood, MD?
Median rent in Derwood is $2,763 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 84% 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 Derwood?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Derwood's current median rent is $2,763/mo, which is $1,777/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Derwood?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 145.7 hours a month to cover Derwood's median rent of $2,763.
Where is rent cheaper than Derwood for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Brandywine ($2,749/mo), Jessup ($2,743/mo), Kensington ($2,733/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.