Retail workers make just half of what they need to rent a typical apartment, with a $34K average salary falling far short of the $71K required, according to NewsNation.
In NYC, the gap is worst — workers fall $96K short of what’s needed. Even top-earning retail employees earn 44% less than needed. No major U.S. metro is affordable under the standard rent-to-income rule.
Though wages are growing slightly faster than rent, experts say many workers are doubling up, downsizing, or moving far from jobs just to get by.
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