Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Champaign, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.4% of gross income.
Champaign 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 Champaign, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Champaign
View full rent data for Champaign, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Champaign, IL?
Median rent in Champaign is $1,410 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 26.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Champaign?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Champaign's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which leaves a $192/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Champaign?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 45.8 hours a month to cover Champaign's median rent of $1,410.
Where is rent cheaper than Champaign for a firefighter?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Cahokia ($1,408/mo), Ottawa ($1,408/mo), Dekalb ($1,404/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.