Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Macon, GA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.

Macon rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Georgia state estimate).

Macon median rent
$1,244/mo
Firefighter salary (Georgia)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
25%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Macon's median rent of $1,244 leaves roughly $248/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 43.4 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 Georgia cities have lower median rent than Macon, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Forest Park, GA
$1,243/mo (25% of income)
Savannah, GA
$1,242/mo (25% of income)
Smyrna, GA
$1,242/mo (25% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Macon

View full rent data for Macon, GA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Macon, GA?

Median rent in Macon is $1,244 a month. A typical firefighter in Georgia earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Macon?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Georgia (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Macon's current median rent is $1,244/mo, which leaves a $248/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Georgia works roughly 43.4 hours a month to cover Macon's median rent of $1,244.

Where is rent cheaper than Macon for a firefighter?

Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Forest Park ($1,243/mo), Savannah ($1,242/mo), Smyrna ($1,242/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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