Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Pine Brook, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49% of gross income.

Pine Brook rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Pine Brook median rent
$2,871/mo
Firefighter salary (New Jersey)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
49%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Pine Brook's median rent of $2,871 exceeds that threshold by $1,112/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 84.9 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Pine Brook, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Weehawken, NJ
$2,868/mo (48.9% of income)
Morristown, NJ
$2,868/mo (48.9% of income)
Red Bank, NJ
$2,867/mo (48.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pine Brook

View full rent data for Pine Brook, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Pine Brook, NJ?

Median rent in Pine Brook is $2,871 a month. A typical firefighter in New Jersey earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 49% 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 Pine Brook?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New Jersey (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Pine Brook's current median rent is $2,871/mo, which is $1,112/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in New Jersey works roughly 84.9 hours a month to cover Pine Brook's median rent of $2,871.

Where is rent cheaper than Pine Brook for a firefighter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Weehawken ($2,868/mo), Morristown ($2,868/mo), Red Bank ($2,867/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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