Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Searcy, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.9% of gross income.

Searcy rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Searcy median rent
$1,125/mo
Firefighter salary (Arkansas)
$52,132/yr
Rent as % of income
25.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,344, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,303/mo in rent. Searcy's median rent of $1,125 leaves roughly $178/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 44.9 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Searcy, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Hot Springs, AR
$1,123/mo (25.8% of income)
Austin, AR
$1,123/mo (25.8% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$1,122/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Searcy

View full rent data for Searcy, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Searcy, AR?

Median rent in Searcy is $1,125 a month. A typical firefighter in Arkansas earns about $52,132 a year, which makes that rent 25.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Searcy?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Arkansas (~$52,132/yr) supports up to $1,303 a month in rent. Searcy's current median rent is $1,125/mo, which leaves a $178/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a firefighter in Arkansas works roughly 44.9 hours a month to cover Searcy's median rent of $1,125.

Where is rent cheaper than Searcy for a firefighter?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Hot Springs ($1,123/mo), Austin ($1,123/mo), North Little Rock ($1,122/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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