Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Granite City, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19% of gross income.
Granite City 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 Granite City, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Granite City
View full rent data for Granite City, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Granite City, IL?
Median rent in Granite City is $1,013 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 19% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Granite City?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Granite City's current median rent is $1,013/mo, which leaves a $589/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Granite City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 32.9 hours a month to cover Granite City's median rent of $1,013.
Where is rent cheaper than Granite City for a firefighter?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Champaign ($1,012/mo), Belleville ($1,012/mo), Decatur ($1,006/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.