Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Maple Valley, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 93.6% of gross income.

Maple Valley rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Maple Valley median rent
$3,070/mo
Bartender salary (Washington)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
93.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Maple Valley's median rent of $3,070 exceeds that threshold by $2,086/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 162.3 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Maple Valley, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Bainbridge Island, WA
$3,050/mo (93% of income)
Issaquah, WA
$3,031/mo (92.4% of income)
Lake Stevens, WA
$3,023/mo (92.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Maple Valley

View full rent data for Maple Valley, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Maple Valley, WA?

Median rent in Maple Valley is $3,070 a month. A typical bartender in Washington earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 93.6% 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 Maple Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Washington (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Maple Valley's current median rent is $3,070/mo, which is $2,086/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Washington works roughly 162.3 hours a month to cover Maple Valley's median rent of $3,070.

Where is rent cheaper than Maple Valley for a bartender?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bainbridge Island ($3,050/mo), Issaquah ($3,031/mo), Lake Stevens ($3,023/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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