Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.2% of gross income.

Albert Lea rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Albert Lea median rent
$1,046/mo
Firefighter salary (Minnesota)
$65,322/yr
Rent as % of income
19.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,444, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,633/mo in rent. Albert Lea's median rent of $1,046 leaves roughly $587/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 33.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Austin, MN
$1,041/mo (19.1% of income)
Austin, MN
$992/mo (18.2% of income)
Waseca, MN
$990/mo (18.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea

View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Median rent in Albert Lea is $1,046 a month. A typical firefighter in Minnesota earns about $65,322 a year, which makes that rent 19.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Albert Lea?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Minnesota (~$65,322/yr) supports up to $1,633 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $1,046/mo, which leaves a $587/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Albert Lea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Minnesota works roughly 33.3 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $1,046.

Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a firefighter?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($1,041/mo), Austin ($992/mo), Waseca ($990/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Minnesota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Albert Lea, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.