Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Oroville, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.3% of gross income.
Oroville 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 Oroville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Oroville
View full rent data for Oroville, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Oroville, CA?
Median rent in Oroville is $1,315 a month. A typical firefighter in California earns about $74,116 a year, which makes that rent 21.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Oroville?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in California (~$74,116/yr) supports up to $1,853 a month in rent. Oroville's current median rent is $1,315/mo, which leaves a $538/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Oroville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a firefighter in California works roughly 36.9 hours a month to cover Oroville's median rent of $1,315.
Where is rent cheaper than Oroville for a firefighter?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Barstow ($1,314/mo), Red Bluff ($1,313/mo), Red Bluff ($1,313/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.