Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Miles City, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.7% of gross income.

Miles City rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Miles City median rent
$813/mo
Firefighter salary (Montana)
$55,273/yr
Rent as % of income
17.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,606, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,382/mo in rent. Miles City's median rent of $813 leaves roughly $569/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 30.6 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.

Compare with full rent data for Miles City

View full rent data for Miles City, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Miles City, MT?

Median rent in Miles City is $813 a month. A typical firefighter in Montana earns about $55,273 a year, which makes that rent 17.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Miles City?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Montana (~$55,273/yr) supports up to $1,382 a month in rent. Miles City's current median rent is $813/mo, which leaves a $569/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in Montana works roughly 30.6 hours a month to cover Miles City's median rent of $813.

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