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Can You Afford a 1-Bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County? The Salary Math.

We use a 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,272/month as a proxy for the 1-bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County. To keep rent under 30% of take-home, you need at least $65,000/year before taxes.HUD does not publish a separate FMR for a 1-bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County. Showing the 2-bedroom rent of $1,272/month as a proxy.

HUD does not publish a separate FMR for a 1-bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County. Showing the 2-bedroom rent of $1,272/month as a proxy.

Salary thresholds at the HUD FMR of $1,272/month

Rent burden based on estimated take-home after federal, state, and FICA taxes (single filer). Verdict uses 30% rule.

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly take-homeRent burdenVerdict
Entry-level (10th pct.)$37,600$2,56249.6%Too much
Early career (25th pct.)$39,570$2,68847.3%Too much
Median$49,480$3,31838.3%Stretch
Experienced (75th pct.)$77,240$4,97025.6%OK
Top earners (90th pct.)$105,370$6,52519.5%Comfortable

Verdict guide: Comfortable <25% | OK 25-30% | Stretch 30-40% | Too much >40%

Jobs that pay enough to afford a 1-Bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County

These occupations have median salaries that keep rent under 30% of take-home.

Lodging Managers
$66,910/yr median
Computer Programmers
$105,050/yr median
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
$79,040/yr median
Physicians, Pathologists
$329,970/yr median
Technical Writers
$89,260/yr median
Radiologists
$279,990/yr median
Registered Nurses
$84,850/yr median

Keep exploring Louisville/Jefferson County

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Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County?
You need roughly $65,000/year gross to keep a 1-bedroom at $1,272/month under the 30% rent burden threshold. That uses current federal and KY state tax brackets with FICA, assuming single filing and the standard deduction.
How much is the HUD Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Louisville/Jefferson County?
HUD publishes Fair Market Rents at the metro level, not for Louisville/Jefferson County as a whole. We use the statewide 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,272/month as a proxy.
Is Louisville/Jefferson County expensive for renters?
Louisville/Jefferson County is below the national average in cost. A 1-bedroom at the HUD FMR of $1,272/month is more manageable here than in most metros.
What percentage of income should go to rent?
The standard guideline is 30% of your gross monthly income before taxes. Go above that and you risk being "rent-burdened," which the Census Bureau defines as spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. Budget carefully if your rent burden sits above 40%.
Which jobs pay enough to afford rent in Louisville/Jefferson County?
The following occupations in Louisville/Jefferson County have median salaries that keep 1-bedroom rent under 30% of take-home pay: Lodging Managers, Computer Programmers, Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers, Physicians, Pathologists, Technical Writers, Radiologists, Registered Nurses.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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