A new analysis examines how far starting teacher salaries can stretch under the federal push for a $60,000 minimum starting pay benchmark—using detailed cost modeling rather than broad averages. The piece focuses on Kent County, Maryland, where the annual starting salary is reported at $56,240, close to but below the policy target. Using assumptions for a “healthy single adult without children,” living independently and carrying average student and other debt, the analysis reports that the modeled budget leaves no money for savings and requires a second job or side income to finish the year in the black. The report situates the findings amid stalled federal proposals and uneven state implementation, including Maryland’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future approach that requires districts to reach $60,000 by July 1, with only half of the state’s districts reported as already meeting the threshold. For higher education audiences, the relevance is workforce stability: teacher pay benchmarks drive pipeline health for teacher education programs, and affordability gaps reinforce recruitment and retention challenges in districts that hire graduates.