Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Blue Island, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.6% of gross income.
Blue Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Blue Island, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Blue Island
View full rent data for Blue Island, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Blue Island, IL?
Median rent in Blue Island is $1,258 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 23.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Blue Island?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Blue Island's current median rent is $1,258/mo, which leaves a $344/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Blue Island?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 40.8 hours a month to cover Blue Island's median rent of $1,258.
Where is rent cheaper than Blue Island for a firefighter?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Quincy ($1,256/mo), Collinsville ($1,255/mo), Dekalb ($1,254/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.