Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Burlington, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.6% of gross income.

Burlington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$2,059/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
42.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $2,059 exceeds that threshold by $608/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 73.8 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Redmond, WA
$2,058/mo (42.6% of income)
Ferndale, WA
$2,058/mo (42.6% of income)
Lacey, WA
$2,056/mo (42.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Burlington, WA?

Median rent in Burlington is $2,059 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 42.6% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $2,059/mo, which is $608/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 73.8 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $2,059.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Redmond ($2,058/mo), Ferndale ($2,058/mo), Lacey ($2,056/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.

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