Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Mitchell, SD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.1% of gross income.
Mitchell rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).
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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Mitchell, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Mitchell
View full rent data for Mitchell, SD →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Mitchell, SD?
Median rent in Mitchell is $972 a month. A typical firefighter in South Dakota earns about $55,273 a year, which makes that rent 21.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Mitchell?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in South Dakota (~$55,273/yr) supports up to $1,382 a month in rent. Mitchell's current median rent is $972/mo, which leaves a $410/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Mitchell?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a firefighter in South Dakota works roughly 36.6 hours a month to cover Mitchell's median rent of $972.
Where is rent cheaper than Mitchell for a firefighter?
Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($964/mo), Vermillion ($955/mo), Sioux Falls ($952/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.