Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Fairview Heights, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.1% of gross income.

Fairview Heights rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Fairview Heights median rent
$1,287/mo
Bartender salary (Illinois)
$35,833/yr
Rent as % of income
43.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,986, and the 30% rule supports up to $896/mo in rent. Fairview Heights's median rent of $1,287 exceeds that threshold by $391/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 74.7 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Fairview Heights, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Shiloh, IL
$1,286/mo (43.1% of income)
Machesney Park, IL
$1,280/mo (42.9% of income)
Broadview, IL
$1,280/mo (42.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairview Heights

View full rent data for Fairview Heights, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Fairview Heights, IL?

Median rent in Fairview Heights is $1,287 a month. A typical bartender in Illinois earns about $35,833 a year, which makes that rent 43.1% 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 Fairview Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Illinois (~$35,833/yr) supports up to $896 a month in rent. Fairview Heights's current median rent is $1,287/mo, which is $391/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Fairview Heights?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Illinois works roughly 74.7 hours a month to cover Fairview Heights's median rent of $1,287.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairview Heights for a bartender?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Shiloh ($1,286/mo), Machesney Park ($1,280/mo), Broadview ($1,280/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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