Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Fife, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.6% of gross income.

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

Fife median rent
$1,794/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Washington)
$54,387/yr
Rent as % of income
39.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,532, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,360/mo in rent. Fife's median rent of $1,794 exceeds that threshold by $434/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 68.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Washington cities have lower median rent than Fife, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Vancouver, WA
$1,792/mo (39.5% of income)
Vancouver, WA
$1,791/mo (39.5% of income)
Vancouver, WA
$1,790/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fife

View full rent data for Fife, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Fife, WA?

Median rent in Fife is $1,794 a month. A typical dental assistant in Washington earns about $54,387 a year, which makes that rent 39.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Fife?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Washington (~$54,387/yr) supports up to $1,360 a month in rent. Fife's current median rent is $1,794/mo, which is $434/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Fife?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a dental assistant in Washington works roughly 68.6 hours a month to cover Fife's median rent of $1,794.

Where is rent cheaper than Fife for a dental assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Vancouver ($1,792/mo), Vancouver ($1,791/mo), Vancouver ($1,790/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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