Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Sedalia, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.3% of gross income.

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

Sedalia median rent
$1,124/mo
Firefighter salary (Missouri)
$57,785/yr
Rent as % of income
23.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,445/mo in rent. Sedalia's median rent of $1,124 leaves roughly $321/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 40.5 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 Sedalia, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Joplin, MO
$1,122/mo (23.3% of income)
Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,121/mo (23.3% of income)
Saint Robert, MO
$1,119/mo (23.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sedalia

View full rent data for Sedalia, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Sedalia, MO?

Median rent in Sedalia is $1,124 a month. A typical firefighter in Missouri earns about $57,785 a year, which makes that rent 23.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Sedalia?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Missouri (~$57,785/yr) supports up to $1,445 a month in rent. Sedalia's current median rent is $1,124/mo, which leaves a $321/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Missouri works roughly 40.5 hours a month to cover Sedalia's median rent of $1,124.

Where is rent cheaper than Sedalia for a firefighter?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Joplin ($1,122/mo), Cape Girardeau ($1,121/mo), Saint Robert ($1,119/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 Sedalia, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.