Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Shoreline, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.2% of gross income.

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

Shoreline median rent
$2,042/mo
Bus Driver salary (Washington)
$58,038/yr
Rent as % of income
42.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,837, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,451/mo in rent. Shoreline's median rent of $2,042 exceeds that threshold by $591/mo, putting a bus driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bus driver works roughly 73.2 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 Shoreline, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:

Tukwila, WA
$2,040/mo (42.2% of income)
Sumner, WA
$2,036/mo (42.1% of income)
Liberty Lake, WA
$2,035/mo (42.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Shoreline

View full rent data for Shoreline, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bus driver afford rent in Shoreline, WA?

Median rent in Shoreline is $2,042 a month. A typical bus driver in Washington earns about $58,038 a year, which makes that rent 42.2% 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 Shoreline?

Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Washington (~$58,038/yr) supports up to $1,451 a month in rent. Shoreline's current median rent is $2,042/mo, which is $591/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a bus driver in Washington works roughly 73.2 hours a month to cover Shoreline's median rent of $2,042.

Where is rent cheaper than Shoreline for a bus driver?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Tukwila ($2,040/mo), Sumner ($2,036/mo), Liberty Lake ($2,035/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 Shoreline, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.