Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.
Fort Smith rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Fort Smith, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Smith
View full rent data for Fort Smith, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Median rent in Fort Smith is $1,071 a month. A typical firefighter in Arkansas earns about $52,132 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Fort Smith?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Arkansas (~$52,132/yr) supports up to $1,303 a month in rent. Fort Smith's current median rent is $1,071/mo, which leaves a $232/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Fort Smith?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a firefighter in Arkansas works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover Fort Smith's median rent of $1,071.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Smith for a firefighter?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,069/mo), Jacksonville ($1,069/mo), North Little Rock ($1,064/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.