Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Pullman, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.5% of gross income.

Pullman rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Pullman median rent
$1,493/mo
Bartender salary (Washington)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
45.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Pullman's median rent of $1,493 exceeds that threshold by $509/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 78.9 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Pullman, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Walla Walla, WA
$1,488/mo (45.4% of income)
Spokane Valley, WA
$1,488/mo (45.4% of income)
Selah, WA
$1,487/mo (45.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pullman

View full rent data for Pullman, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Pullman, WA?

Median rent in Pullman is $1,493 a month. A typical bartender in Washington earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 45.5% 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 Pullman?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Washington (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Pullman's current median rent is $1,493/mo, which is $509/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Washington works roughly 78.9 hours a month to cover Pullman's median rent of $1,493.

Where is rent cheaper than Pullman for a bartender?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Walla Walla ($1,488/mo), Spokane Valley ($1,488/mo), Selah ($1,487/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 Pullman, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.