Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Olney, MD?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 85.3% of gross income.
Olney 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 Olney, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Olney
View full rent data for Olney, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Olney, MD?
Median rent in Olney is $2,803 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 85.3% 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 Olney?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Olney's current median rent is $2,803/mo, which is $1,817/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Olney?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 147.8 hours a month to cover Olney's median rent of $2,803.
Where is rent cheaper than Olney for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Derwood ($2,797/mo), Derwood ($2,788/mo), Chevy Chase ($2,788/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.