Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Salem, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.7% of gross income.
Salem rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Salem, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Salem
View full rent data for Salem, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Salem, MA?
Median rent in Salem is $2,742 a month. A typical bus driver in Massachusetts earns about $60,111 a year, which makes that rent 54.7% 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 Salem?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Massachusetts (~$60,111/yr) supports up to $1,503 a month in rent. Salem's current median rent is $2,742/mo, which is $1,239/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Salem?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a bus driver in Massachusetts works roughly 94.9 hours a month to cover Salem's median rent of $2,742.
Where is rent cheaper than Salem for a bus driver?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westborough ($2,741/mo), Mansfield ($2,741/mo), Malden ($2,741/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.