Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bonney Lake, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.2% of gross income.

Bonney Lake rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Bonney Lake median rent
$2,765/mo
Firefighter salary (Washington)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
47.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Bonney Lake's median rent of $2,765 exceeds that threshold by $1,006/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 81.8 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Bonney Lake, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Bainbridge Island, WA
$2,763/mo (47.1% of income)
Bainbridge Island, WA
$2,759/mo (47.1% of income)
Bainbridge Island, WA
$2,758/mo (47% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bonney Lake

View full rent data for Bonney Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bonney Lake, WA?

Median rent in Bonney Lake is $2,765 a month. A typical firefighter in Washington earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 47.2% 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 Bonney Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Washington (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Bonney Lake's current median rent is $2,765/mo, which is $1,006/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in Washington works roughly 81.8 hours a month to cover Bonney Lake's median rent of $2,765.

Where is rent cheaper than Bonney Lake for a firefighter?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bainbridge Island ($2,763/mo), Bainbridge Island ($2,759/mo), Bainbridge Island ($2,758/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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