Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Pendleton, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

Pendleton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Pendleton median rent
$1,343/mo
Firefighter salary (Oregon)
$65,322/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,444, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,633/mo in rent. Pendleton's median rent of $1,343 leaves roughly $290/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 42.8 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Pendleton, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Eugene, OR
$1,342/mo (24.7% of income)
Coos Bay, OR
$1,338/mo (24.6% of income)
Astoria, OR
$1,337/mo (24.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pendleton

View full rent data for Pendleton, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Pendleton, OR?

Median rent in Pendleton is $1,343 a month. A typical firefighter in Oregon earns about $65,322 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Pendleton?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Oregon (~$65,322/yr) supports up to $1,633 a month in rent. Pendleton's current median rent is $1,343/mo, which leaves a $290/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a firefighter in Oregon works roughly 42.8 hours a month to cover Pendleton's median rent of $1,343.

Where is rent cheaper than Pendleton for a firefighter?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Eugene ($1,342/mo), Coos Bay ($1,338/mo), Astoria ($1,337/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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