Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Fultondale, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.5% of gross income.

Fultondale rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Fultondale median rent
$1,599/mo
Firefighter salary (Alabama)
$54,017/yr
Rent as % of income
35.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,501, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,350/mo in rent. Fultondale's median rent of $1,599 exceeds that threshold by $249/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 61.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Alabama cities have lower median rent than Fultondale, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Auburn, AL
$1,597/mo (35.5% of income)
Auburn, AL
$1,597/mo (35.5% of income)
Homewood, AL
$1,596/mo (35.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fultondale

View full rent data for Fultondale, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Fultondale, AL?

Median rent in Fultondale is $1,599 a month. A typical firefighter in Alabama earns about $54,017 a year, which makes that rent 35.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Fultondale?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Alabama (~$54,017/yr) supports up to $1,350 a month in rent. Fultondale's current median rent is $1,599/mo, which is $249/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Fultondale?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a firefighter in Alabama works roughly 61.6 hours a month to cover Fultondale's median rent of $1,599.

Where is rent cheaper than Fultondale for a firefighter?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Auburn ($1,597/mo), Auburn ($1,597/mo), Homewood ($1,596/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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