Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Selah, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.

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

Selah median rent
$1,757/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
36.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Selah's median rent of $1,757 exceeds that threshold by $306/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 63 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 Selah, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Tacoma, WA
$1,755/mo (36.3% of income)
Tacoma, WA
$1,755/mo (36.3% of income)
Vancouver, WA
$1,754/mo (36.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Selah

View full rent data for Selah, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Selah, WA?

Median rent in Selah is $1,757 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% 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 Selah?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Selah's current median rent is $1,757/mo, which is $306/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 63 hours a month to cover Selah's median rent of $1,757.

Where is rent cheaper than Selah for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Tacoma ($1,755/mo), Tacoma ($1,755/mo), Vancouver ($1,754/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 Selah, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.