Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Cerritos, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.3% of gross income.
Cerritos 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 Cerritos, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cerritos
View full rent data for Cerritos, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Cerritos, CA?
Median rent in Cerritos is $3,600 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 58.3% 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 Cerritos?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. Cerritos's current median rent is $3,600/mo, which is $1,747/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Cerritos?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 101 hours a month to cover Cerritos's median rent of $3,600.
Where is rent cheaper than Cerritos for a firefighter?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Discovery Bay ($3,599/mo), Marina ($3,598/mo), Santa Clara ($3,598/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.