Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Sioux City, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.3% of gross income.

Sioux City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Sioux City median rent
$1,216/mo
Firefighter salary (Iowa)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
25.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Sioux City's median rent of $1,216 leaves roughly $229/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 43.8 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Sioux City, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,215/mo (25.2% of income)
Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,213/mo (25.2% of income)
Council Bluffs, IA
$1,212/mo (25.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sioux City

View full rent data for Sioux City, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Sioux City, IA?

Median rent in Sioux City is $1,216 a month. A typical firefighter in Iowa earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 25.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Sioux City?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Iowa (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Sioux City's current median rent is $1,216/mo, which leaves a $229/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Iowa works roughly 43.8 hours a month to cover Sioux City's median rent of $1,216.

Where is rent cheaper than Sioux City for a firefighter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Pleasant Hill ($1,215/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,213/mo), Council Bluffs ($1,212/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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