Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in New Carrollton, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.4% of gross income.

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

New Carrollton median rent
$1,757/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Maryland)
$39,452/yr
Rent as % of income
53.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,288, and the 30% rule supports up to $986/mo in rent. New Carrollton's median rent of $1,757 exceeds that threshold by $771/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 92.6 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 New Carrollton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Lexington Park, MD
$1,756/mo (53.4% of income)
Brooklyn Park, MD
$1,755/mo (53.4% of income)
Beltsville, MD
$1,754/mo (53.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Carrollton

View full rent data for New Carrollton, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in New Carrollton, MD?

Median rent in New Carrollton is $1,757 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 53.4% 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 New Carrollton?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. New Carrollton's current median rent is $1,757/mo, which is $771/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 92.6 hours a month to cover New Carrollton's median rent of $1,757.

Where is rent cheaper than New Carrollton for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Lexington Park ($1,756/mo), Brooklyn Park ($1,755/mo), Beltsville ($1,754/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 New Carrollton, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.