Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Takoma Park, MD?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.4% of gross income.
Takoma Park 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 Takoma Park, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Takoma Park
View full rent data for Takoma Park, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Takoma Park, MD?
Median rent in Takoma Park is $1,623 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maryland earns about $39,452 a year, which makes that rent 49.4% 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 Takoma Park?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maryland (~$39,452/yr) supports up to $986 a month in rent. Takoma Park's current median rent is $1,623/mo, which is $637/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Takoma Park?
At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maryland works roughly 85.6 hours a month to cover Takoma Park's median rent of $1,623.
Where is rent cheaper than Takoma Park for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Glen Burnie ($1,622/mo), East Riverdale ($1,621/mo), Glen Burnie ($1,621/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.