The Fact
The National Low Income Housing Coalition calculated a 2026 national Housing Wage of $34.73 per hour for a modest two-bedroom rental at HUD Fair Market Rent, assuming a full-time worker spends no more than 30% of income on housing. The corresponding one-bedroom Housing Wage was $29.19 per hour.
The Comparison
The average renter wage reported in the same analysis was $24.84 per hour. That left a gap of $4.35 per hour for a one-bedroom rental and $9.89 per hour for a two-bedroom rental at the 30% standard.
What This Means
The Housing Wage converts rental affordability into a number that can be compared directly with hourly earnings.
Sources
- National Low Income Housing Coalition, Out of Reach 2026: The High Cost of Housing, July 2026.