Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Wichita, KS?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.3% of gross income.
Wichita rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Wichita, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wichita
View full rent data for Wichita, KS →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Wichita, KS?
Median rent in Wichita is $1,146 a month. A typical firefighter in Kansas earns about $56,529 a year, which makes that rent 24.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Wichita?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Kansas (~$56,529/yr) supports up to $1,413 a month in rent. Wichita's current median rent is $1,146/mo, which leaves a $267/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Wichita?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Kansas works roughly 42.2 hours a month to cover Wichita's median rent of $1,146.
Where is rent cheaper than Wichita for a firefighter?
Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Topeka ($1,145/mo), Topeka ($1,142/mo), Junction City ($1,138/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.