Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Ozark, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.5% of gross income.

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

Ozark median rent
$1,467/mo
Firefighter salary (Missouri)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
30.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Ozark's median rent of $1,467 exceeds that threshold by $22/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 52.8 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 Ozark, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Creve Coeur, MO
$1,465/mo (30.4% of income)
Nixa, MO
$1,465/mo (30.4% of income)
Nixa, MO
$1,464/mo (30.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ozark

View full rent data for Ozark, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Ozark, MO?

Median rent in Ozark is $1,467 a month. A typical firefighter in Missouri earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 30.5% 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 Ozark?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Missouri (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Ozark's current median rent is $1,467/mo, which is $22/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Missouri works roughly 52.8 hours a month to cover Ozark's median rent of $1,467.

Where is rent cheaper than Ozark for a firefighter?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Creve Coeur ($1,465/mo), Nixa ($1,465/mo), Nixa ($1,464/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 Ozark, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.