Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Norman, OK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.4% of gross income.

Norman rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Norman median rent
$1,383/mo
Bus Driver salary (Oklahoma)
$45,602/yr
Rent as % of income
36.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,800, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,140/mo in rent. Norman's median rent of $1,383 exceeds that threshold by $243/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 63.1 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Norman, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Guthrie, OK
$1,379/mo (36.3% of income)
Noble, OK
$1,368/mo (36% of income)
Claremore, OK
$1,365/mo (35.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Norman

View full rent data for Norman, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Norman, OK?

Median rent in Norman is $1,383 a month. A typical bus driver in Oklahoma earns about $45,602 a year, which makes that rent 36.4% 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 Norman?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Oklahoma (~$45,602/yr) supports up to $1,140 a month in rent. Norman's current median rent is $1,383/mo, which is $243/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a bus driver in Oklahoma works roughly 63.1 hours a month to cover Norman's median rent of $1,383.

Where is rent cheaper than Norman for a bus driver?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Guthrie ($1,379/mo), Noble ($1,368/mo), Claremore ($1,365/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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