Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Baker, LA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.8% of gross income.

Baker rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Baker median rent
$1,194/mo
Bus Driver salary (Louisiana)
$45,083/yr
Rent as % of income
31.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,127/mo in rent. Baker's median rent of $1,194 exceeds that threshold by $67/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 55.1 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Baker, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Harvey, LA
$1,193/mo (31.8% of income)
Covington, LA
$1,191/mo (31.7% of income)
Leesville, LA
$1,189/mo (31.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Baker

View full rent data for Baker, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Baker, LA?

Median rent in Baker is $1,194 a month. A typical bus driver in Louisiana earns about $45,083 a year, which makes that rent 31.8% 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 Baker?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Louisiana (~$45,083/yr) supports up to $1,127 a month in rent. Baker's current median rent is $1,194/mo, which is $67/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Louisiana works roughly 55.1 hours a month to cover Baker's median rent of $1,194.

Where is rent cheaper than Baker for a bus driver?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Harvey ($1,193/mo), Covington ($1,191/mo), Leesville ($1,189/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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