Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in El Paso, TX?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.4% of gross income.
El Paso rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than El Paso, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for El Paso
View full rent data for El Paso, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in El Paso, TX?
Median rent in El Paso is $1,521 a month. A typical firefighter in Texas earns about $62,182 a year, which makes that rent 29.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in El Paso?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Texas (~$62,182/yr) supports up to $1,555 a month in rent. El Paso's current median rent is $1,521/mo, which leaves a $34/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in El Paso?
At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a firefighter in Texas works roughly 50.9 hours a month to cover El Paso's median rent of $1,521.
Where is rent cheaper than El Paso for a firefighter?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include White Settlement ($1,520/mo), Baytown ($1,520/mo), Addison ($1,520/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.