Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Summit, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 91.7% of gross income.

Summit rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Summit median rent
$3,006/mo
Bartender salary (New Jersey)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
91.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Summit's median rent of $3,006 exceeds that threshold by $2,022/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 158.9 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Summit, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Fort Lee, NJ
$3,003/mo (91.6% of income)
Fort Lee, NJ
$3,002/mo (91.6% of income)
East Rutherford, NJ
$3,002/mo (91.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Summit

View full rent data for Summit, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Summit, NJ?

Median rent in Summit is $3,006 a month. A typical bartender in New Jersey earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 91.7% 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 Summit?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in New Jersey (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Summit's current median rent is $3,006/mo, which is $2,022/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in New Jersey works roughly 158.9 hours a month to cover Summit's median rent of $3,006.

Where is rent cheaper than Summit for a bartender?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Fort Lee ($3,003/mo), Fort Lee ($3,002/mo), East Rutherford ($3,002/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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