Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Waterloo, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.6% of gross income.
Waterloo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waterloo
View full rent data for Waterloo, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Waterloo, IA?
Median rent in Waterloo is $898 a month. A typical firefighter in Iowa earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 18.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Waterloo?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Iowa (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $898/mo, which leaves a $547/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Waterloo?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Iowa works roughly 32.3 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $898.
Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a firefighter?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($897/mo), Marshalltown ($893/mo), Newton ($887/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.