Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Fairbanks, AK?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.
Fairbanks rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).
About rent and a firefighter salary
Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Alaska cities have lower median rent than Fairbanks, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fairbanks
View full rent data for Fairbanks, AK →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Fairbanks, AK?
Median rent in Fairbanks is $1,720 a month. A typical firefighter in Alaska earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Fairbanks?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Alaska (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Fairbanks's current median rent is $1,720/mo, which leaves a $39/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Fairbanks?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in Alaska works roughly 50.9 hours a month to cover Fairbanks's median rent of $1,720.
Where is rent cheaper than Fairbanks for a firefighter?
Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Wasilla ($1,718/mo), Anchorage ($1,716/mo), Wasilla ($1,715/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.