Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in San Antonio, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.

San Antonio rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

San Antonio median rent
$1,382/mo
Firefighter salary (Texas)
$62,182/yr
Rent as % of income
26.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,182, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,555/mo in rent. San Antonio's median rent of $1,382 leaves roughly $173/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 46.2 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than San Antonio, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Kingsville, TX
$1,381/mo (26.7% of income)
Marble Falls, TX
$1,381/mo (26.7% of income)
Lubbock, TX
$1,380/mo (26.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Antonio

View full rent data for San Antonio, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in San Antonio, TX?

Median rent in San Antonio is $1,382 a month. A typical firefighter in Texas earns about $62,182 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in San Antonio?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Texas (~$62,182/yr) supports up to $1,555 a month in rent. San Antonio's current median rent is $1,382/mo, which leaves a $173/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a firefighter in Texas works roughly 46.2 hours a month to cover San Antonio's median rent of $1,382.

Where is rent cheaper than San Antonio for a firefighter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Kingsville ($1,381/mo), Marble Falls ($1,381/mo), Lubbock ($1,380/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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