Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Lake Saint Louis, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.3% of gross income.

Lake Saint Louis rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Lake Saint Louis median rent
$1,652/mo
Firefighter salary (Missouri)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
34.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Lake Saint Louis's median rent of $1,652 exceeds that threshold by $207/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 59.5 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Lake Saint Louis, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Arnold, MO
$1,651/mo (34.3% of income)
Saint Peters, MO
$1,651/mo (34.3% of income)
Clayton, MO
$1,650/mo (34.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Saint Louis

View full rent data for Lake Saint Louis, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Lake Saint Louis, MO?

Median rent in Lake Saint Louis is $1,652 a month. A typical firefighter in Missouri earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 34.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Lake Saint Louis?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Missouri (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Lake Saint Louis's current median rent is $1,652/mo, which is $207/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Lake Saint Louis?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Missouri works roughly 59.5 hours a month to cover Lake Saint Louis's median rent of $1,652.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Saint Louis for a firefighter?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Arnold ($1,651/mo), Saint Peters ($1,651/mo), Clayton ($1,650/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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