Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Redding, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.3% of gross income.

Redding rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Redding median rent
$1,647/mo
Bus Driver salary (California)
$61,148/yr
Rent as % of income
32.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,096, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,529/mo in rent. Redding's median rent of $1,647 exceeds that threshold by $118/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 56 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bus driver salary

Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Redding, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Hawthorne, CA
$1,646/mo (32.3% of income)
California City, CA
$1,644/mo (32.3% of income)
Joshua Tree, CA
$1,643/mo (32.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Redding

View full rent data for Redding, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Redding, CA?

Median rent in Redding is $1,647 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 32.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bus driver afford in Redding?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Redding's current median rent is $1,647/mo, which is $118/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Redding?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 56 hours a month to cover Redding's median rent of $1,647.

Where is rent cheaper than Redding for a bus driver?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Hawthorne ($1,646/mo), California City ($1,644/mo), Joshua Tree ($1,643/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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