Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Scottsbluff, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.5% of gross income.

Scottsbluff rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Scottsbluff median rent
$938/mo
Bartender salary (Nebraska)
$32,671/yr
Rent as % of income
34.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $817/mo in rent. Scottsbluff's median rent of $938 exceeds that threshold by $121/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 59.7 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.

Compare with full rent data for Scottsbluff

View full rent data for Scottsbluff, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Scottsbluff, NE?

Median rent in Scottsbluff is $938 a month. A typical bartender in Nebraska earns about $32,671 a year, which makes that rent 34.5% 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 Scottsbluff?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Nebraska (~$32,671/yr) supports up to $817 a month in rent. Scottsbluff's current median rent is $938/mo, which is $121/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Nebraska works roughly 59.7 hours a month to cover Scottsbluff's median rent of $938.

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