Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Chico, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.5% of gross income.
Chico 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 Chico, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Chico
View full rent data for Chico, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Chico, CA?
Median rent in Chico is $1,577 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 25.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Chico?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. Chico's current median rent is $1,577/mo, which leaves a $276/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Chico?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 44.3 hours a month to cover Chico's median rent of $1,577.
Where is rent cheaper than Chico for a firefighter?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Moreno Valley ($1,576/mo), Hawthorne ($1,576/mo), Arcata ($1,576/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.