Can A Lawyer Afford Rent in Burien, WA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 11.4% of gross income.
Burien rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).
About rent and a lawyer salary
Lawyer pay covers comfortable rent in every US city, but the surplus after rent varies sharply by metro. Big-law and federal-government lawyer pay clusters in a handful of cities where rent is also highest, which compresses the affordability margin. At the national-average lawyer salary, the 30% rule supports about $4,412 a month in rent — above the median rent in even the most expensive US metro.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Washington cities have lower median rent than Burien, which improves the affordability math on a lawyer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Burien
View full rent data for Burien, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford rent in Burien, WA?
Median rent in Burien is $1,871 a month. A typical lawyer in Washington earns about $197,646 a year, which makes that rent 11.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a lawyer afford in Burien?
Using the 30% rule, a lawyer salary in Washington (~$197,646/yr) supports up to $4,941 a month in rent. Burien's current median rent is $1,871/mo, which leaves a $3,070/mo buffer.
How many hours does a lawyer work to cover rent in Burien?
At an hourly equivalent of about $95 an hour, a lawyer in Washington works roughly 19.7 hours a month to cover Burien's median rent of $1,871.
Where is rent cheaper than Burien for a lawyer?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Kenmore ($1,870/mo), Federal Way ($1,870/mo), Leavenworth ($1,870/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a lawyer salary.