Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Wenatchee, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

Wenatchee median rent
$1,729/mo
Firefighter salary (Washington)
$70,347/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,759/mo in rent. Wenatchee's median rent of $1,729 leaves roughly $30/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 51.1 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 Wenatchee, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Liberty Lake, WA
$1,728/mo (29.5% of income)
Lakewood, WA
$1,728/mo (29.5% of income)
Fife, WA
$1,727/mo (29.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wenatchee

View full rent data for Wenatchee, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Wenatchee, WA?

Median rent in Wenatchee is $1,729 a month. A typical firefighter in Washington earns about $70,347 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Wenatchee?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Washington (~$70,347/yr) supports up to $1,759 a month in rent. Wenatchee's current median rent is $1,729/mo, which leaves a $30/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in Washington works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover Wenatchee's median rent of $1,729.

Where is rent cheaper than Wenatchee for a firefighter?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Liberty Lake ($1,728/mo), Lakewood ($1,728/mo), Fife ($1,727/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 Wenatchee, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.