Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Sierra Madre, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 83.7% of gross income.

Sierra Madre rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Sierra Madre median rent
$2,890/mo
Bartender salary (California)
$41,453/yr
Rent as % of income
83.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,454, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,036/mo in rent. Sierra Madre's median rent of $2,890 exceeds that threshold by $1,854/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 145 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Sierra Madre, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Rosemead, CA
$2,889/mo (83.6% of income)
Monrovia, CA
$2,888/mo (83.6% of income)
Glendora, CA
$2,888/mo (83.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sierra Madre

View full rent data for Sierra Madre, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Sierra Madre, CA?

Median rent in Sierra Madre is $2,890 a month. A typical bartender in California earns about $41,453 a year, which makes that rent 83.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Sierra Madre?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in California (~$41,453/yr) supports up to $1,036 a month in rent. Sierra Madre's current median rent is $2,890/mo, which is $1,854/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Sierra Madre?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a bartender in California works roughly 145 hours a month to cover Sierra Madre's median rent of $2,890.

Where is rent cheaper than Sierra Madre for a bartender?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Rosemead ($2,889/mo), Monrovia ($2,888/mo), Glendora ($2,888/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived California state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Sierra Madre, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.