Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Sierra Madre, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.6% of gross income.

Sierra Madre rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Sierra Madre median rent
$2,886/mo
Bus Driver salary (California)
$61,148/yr
Rent as % of income
56.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,096, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,529/mo in rent. Sierra Madre's median rent of $2,886 exceeds that threshold by $1,357/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 98.2 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 Sierra Madre, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Antioch, CA
$2,885/mo (56.6% of income)
Camarillo, CA
$2,885/mo (56.6% of income)
Glendora, CA
$2,884/mo (56.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sierra Madre

View full rent data for Sierra Madre, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Sierra Madre, CA?

Median rent in Sierra Madre is $2,886 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 56.6% 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 Sierra Madre?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Sierra Madre's current median rent is $2,886/mo, which is $1,357/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 98.2 hours a month to cover Sierra Madre's median rent of $2,886.

Where is rent cheaper than Sierra Madre for a bus driver?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Antioch ($2,885/mo), Camarillo ($2,885/mo), Glendora ($2,884/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 Sierra Madre, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.