Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Covington, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.2% of gross income.

Covington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Covington median rent
$2,379/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
49.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Covington's median rent of $2,379 exceeds that threshold by $928/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 85.3 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 Covington, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Newcastle, WA
$2,378/mo (49.2% of income)
Frederickson, WA
$2,377/mo (49.1% of income)
Monroe, WA
$2,377/mo (49.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Covington

View full rent data for Covington, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Covington, WA?

Median rent in Covington is $2,379 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 49.2% 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 Covington?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Covington's current median rent is $2,379/mo, which is $928/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 85.3 hours a month to cover Covington's median rent of $2,379.

Where is rent cheaper than Covington for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Newcastle ($2,378/mo), Frederickson ($2,377/mo), Monroe ($2,377/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 Covington, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.