Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Wayne, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.1% of gross income.

Wayne rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Wayne median rent
$2,180/mo
Firefighter salary (Pennsylvania)
$62,182/yr
Rent as % of income
42.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,555/mo in rent. Wayne's median rent of $2,180 exceeds that threshold by $625/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 72.9 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Wayne, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Willow Grove, PA
$2,179/mo (42.1% of income)
Ardmore, PA
$2,175/mo (42% of income)
Southampton, PA
$2,173/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wayne

View full rent data for Wayne, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Wayne, PA?

Median rent in Wayne is $2,180 a month. A typical firefighter in Pennsylvania earns about $62,182 a year, which makes that rent 42.1% 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 Wayne?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Pennsylvania (~$62,182/yr) supports up to $1,555 a month in rent. Wayne's current median rent is $2,180/mo, which is $625/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a firefighter in Pennsylvania works roughly 72.9 hours a month to cover Wayne's median rent of $2,180.

Where is rent cheaper than Wayne for a firefighter?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Willow Grove ($2,179/mo), Ardmore ($2,175/mo), Southampton ($2,173/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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