Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Machesney Park, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.
Machesney Park 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 Machesney Park, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Machesney Park
View full rent data for Machesney Park, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Machesney Park, IL?
Median rent in Machesney Park is $1,469 a month. A typical firefighter in Illinois earns about $64,066 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Machesney Park?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Illinois (~$64,066/yr) supports up to $1,602 a month in rent. Machesney Park's current median rent is $1,469/mo, which leaves a $133/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Machesney Park?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Illinois works roughly 47.7 hours a month to cover Machesney Park's median rent of $1,469.
Where is rent cheaper than Machesney Park for a firefighter?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Woodstock ($1,468/mo), Chicago Heights ($1,467/mo), Swansea ($1,466/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.