Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Kankakee, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.7% of gross income.
Kankakee 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 Kankakee, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kankakee
View full rent data for Kankakee, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Kankakee, IL?
Median rent in Kankakee is $1,160 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 21.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Kankakee?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Kankakee's current median rent is $1,160/mo, which leaves a $442/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Kankakee?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 37.7 hours a month to cover Kankakee's median rent of $1,160.
Where is rent cheaper than Kankakee for a firefighter?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Collinsville ($1,159/mo), Collinsville ($1,159/mo), Collinsville ($1,158/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.