Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Maryland Heights, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.1% of gross income.

Maryland Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Maryland Heights median rent
$1,208/mo
Firefighter salary (Missouri)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
25.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Maryland Heights's median rent of $1,208 leaves roughly $237/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 43.5 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 Maryland Heights, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Springfield, MO
$1,206/mo (25% of income)
Saint Ann, MO
$1,205/mo (25% of income)
Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
$1,204/mo (25% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Maryland Heights

View full rent data for Maryland Heights, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Maryland Heights, MO?

Median rent in Maryland Heights is $1,208 a month. A typical firefighter in Missouri earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 25.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Maryland Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Missouri (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Maryland Heights's current median rent is $1,208/mo, which leaves a $237/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Maryland Heights?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Missouri works roughly 43.5 hours a month to cover Maryland Heights's median rent of $1,208.

Where is rent cheaper than Maryland Heights for a firefighter?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,206/mo), Saint Ann ($1,205/mo), Bellefontaine Neighbors ($1,204/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 Maryland Heights, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.