Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Shoreline, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 62.3% of gross income.

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

Shoreline median rent
$2,042/mo
Bartender salary (Washington)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
62.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Shoreline's median rent of $2,042 exceeds that threshold by $1,058/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 107.9 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 Shoreline, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Tukwila, WA
$2,040/mo (62.2% of income)
Sumner, WA
$2,036/mo (62.1% of income)
Liberty Lake, WA
$2,035/mo (62.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Shoreline

View full rent data for Shoreline, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Shoreline, WA?

Median rent in Shoreline is $2,042 a month. A typical bartender in Washington earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 62.3% 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 Shoreline?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Washington (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Shoreline's current median rent is $2,042/mo, which is $1,058/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Washington works roughly 107.9 hours a month to cover Shoreline's median rent of $2,042.

Where is rent cheaper than Shoreline for a bartender?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Tukwila ($2,040/mo), Sumner ($2,036/mo), Liberty Lake ($2,035/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 Shoreline, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.