Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Burlington, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.6% of gross income.

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

Burlington median rent
$2,110/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
43.6%
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 $2,110 exceeds that threshold by $659/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 75.6 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:

Ferndale, WA
$2,109/mo (43.6% of income)
Enumclaw, WA
$2,109/mo (43.6% of income)
Camas, WA
$2,108/mo (43.6% 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 $2,110 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 43.6% 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 $2,110/mo, which is $659/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 75.6 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $2,110.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ferndale ($2,109/mo), Enumclaw ($2,109/mo), Camas ($2,108/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.