Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Grand Island, NE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.

Grand Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Grand Island median rent
$1,337/mo
Firefighter salary (Nebraska)
$58,413/yr
Rent as % of income
27.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,868, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,460/mo in rent. Grand Island's median rent of $1,337 leaves roughly $123/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 47.6 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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Grand Island, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Bennington, NE
$1,333/mo (27.4% of income)
Bennington, NE
$1,333/mo (27.4% of income)
Lexington, NE
$1,332/mo (27.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Island

View full rent data for Grand Island, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Grand Island, NE?

Median rent in Grand Island is $1,337 a month. A typical firefighter in Nebraska earns about $58,413 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Grand Island?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Nebraska (~$58,413/yr) supports up to $1,460 a month in rent. Grand Island's current median rent is $1,337/mo, which leaves a $123/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a firefighter in Nebraska works roughly 47.6 hours a month to cover Grand Island's median rent of $1,337.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Island for a firefighter?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Bennington ($1,333/mo), Bennington ($1,333/mo), Lexington ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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