Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Taft, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.5% of gross income.
Taft rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
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 Taft, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Taft
View full rent data for Taft, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Taft, CA?
Median rent in Taft is $1,249 a month. A typical bus driver in California earns about $61,148 a year, which makes that rent 24.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Taft?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in California (~$61,148/yr) supports up to $1,529 a month in rent. Taft's current median rent is $1,249/mo, which leaves a $280/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Taft?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in California works roughly 42.5 hours a month to cover Taft's median rent of $1,249.
Where is rent cheaper than Taft for a bus driver?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Barstow ($1,246/mo), Porterville ($1,242/mo), Ridgecrest ($1,241/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.