Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Kearney, NE?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.7% of gross income.
Kearney rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Kearney, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kearney
View full rent data for Kearney, NE →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Kearney, NE?
Median rent in Kearney is $1,515 a month. A typical bus driver in Nebraska earns about $48,193 a year, which makes that rent 37.7% 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 Kearney?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Nebraska (~$48,193/yr) supports up to $1,205 a month in rent. Kearney's current median rent is $1,515/mo, which is $310/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Kearney?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a bus driver in Nebraska works roughly 65.4 hours a month to cover Kearney's median rent of $1,515.
Where is rent cheaper than Kearney for a bus driver?
Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Bennington ($1,477/mo), Columbus ($1,468/mo), Columbus ($1,464/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.