Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Selma, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

Selma rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Selma median rent
$1,314/mo
Bartender salary (Texas)
$34,779/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,898, and the 30% rule supports up to $869/mo in rent. Selma's median rent of $1,314 exceeds that threshold by $445/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 78.6 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Selma, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Lufkin, TX
$1,313/mo (45.3% of income)
Port Arthur, TX
$1,312/mo (45.3% of income)
Texarkana, TX
$1,311/mo (45.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Selma

View full rent data for Selma, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Selma, TX?

Median rent in Selma is $1,314 a month. A typical bartender in Texas earns about $34,779 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Selma?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Texas (~$34,779/yr) supports up to $869 a month in rent. Selma's current median rent is $1,314/mo, which is $445/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Texas works roughly 78.6 hours a month to cover Selma's median rent of $1,314.

Where is rent cheaper than Selma for a bartender?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Lufkin ($1,313/mo), Port Arthur ($1,312/mo), Texarkana ($1,311/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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