Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.

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

Walla Walla median rent
$1,506/mo
Firefighter salary (Washington)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
25.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506 leaves roughly $253/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 44.5 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 Walla Walla, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,504/mo (25.7% of income)
Kent, WA
$1,504/mo (25.7% of income)
Auburn, WA
$1,503/mo (25.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Walla Walla

View full rent data for Walla Walla, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Median rent in Walla Walla is $1,506 a month. A typical firefighter in Washington earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Walla Walla?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Washington (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Walla Walla's current median rent is $1,506/mo, which leaves a $253/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in Washington works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506.

Where is rent cheaper than Walla Walla for a firefighter?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,504/mo), Kent ($1,504/mo), Auburn ($1,503/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 Walla Walla, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.