Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Potomac, MD?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 144.4% of gross income.
Potomac rent: July 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 Potomac, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Potomac
View full rent data for Potomac, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Potomac, MD?
Median rent in Potomac is $4,746 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 144.4% 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 Potomac?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Potomac's current median rent is $4,746/mo, which is $3,760/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Potomac?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 250.2 hours a month to cover Potomac's median rent of $4,746.
Where is rent cheaper than Potomac for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Kensington ($3,513/mo), Clinton ($3,425/mo), Kensington ($3,416/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.