Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Sammamish, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.8% of gross income.

Sammamish rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Sammamish median rent
$3,738/mo
Firefighter salary (Washington)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
63.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Sammamish's median rent of $3,738 exceeds that threshold by $1,979/mo, putting a firefighter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A firefighter works roughly 110.5 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 Sammamish, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

North Bend, WA
$3,269/mo (55.8% of income)
North Bend, WA
$3,173/mo (54.1% of income)
Snoqualmie, WA
$3,173/mo (54.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sammamish

View full rent data for Sammamish, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Sammamish, WA?

Median rent in Sammamish is $3,738 a month. A typical firefighter in Washington earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 63.8% 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 Sammamish?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Washington (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Sammamish's current median rent is $3,738/mo, which is $1,979/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in Washington works roughly 110.5 hours a month to cover Sammamish's median rent of $3,738.

Where is rent cheaper than Sammamish for a firefighter?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include North Bend ($3,269/mo), North Bend ($3,173/mo), Snoqualmie ($3,173/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 Sammamish, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.