Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Pocatello, ID?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.

Pocatello rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Pocatello median rent
$1,063/mo
Firefighter salary (Idaho)
$55,901/yr
Rent as % of income
22.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,658, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Pocatello's median rent of $1,063 leaves roughly $335/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 39.6 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Pocatello, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Blackfoot, ID
$1,060/mo (22.8% of income)
Nampa, ID
$1,052/mo (22.6% of income)
Blackfoot, ID
$988/mo (21.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pocatello

View full rent data for Pocatello, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Pocatello, ID?

Median rent in Pocatello is $1,063 a month. A typical firefighter in Idaho earns about $55,901 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Pocatello?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Idaho (~$55,901/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Pocatello's current median rent is $1,063/mo, which leaves a $335/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Idaho works roughly 39.6 hours a month to cover Pocatello's median rent of $1,063.

Where is rent cheaper than Pocatello for a firefighter?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Blackfoot ($1,060/mo), Nampa ($1,052/mo), Blackfoot ($988/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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