Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Barstow, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.4% of gross income.
Barstow rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California 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 California cities have lower median rent than Barstow, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Barstow
View full rent data for Barstow, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Barstow, CA?
Median rent in Barstow is $1,322 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 21.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Barstow?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. Barstow's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which leaves a $531/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Barstow?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 37.1 hours a month to cover Barstow's median rent of $1,322.
Where is rent cheaper than Barstow for a firefighter?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Red Bluff ($1,321/mo), Red Bluff ($1,316/mo), Oroville ($1,315/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.