Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Sparks, NV?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.2% of gross income.
Sparks rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nevada state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Nevada cities have lower median rent than Sparks, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Sparks
View full rent data for Sparks, NV →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Sparks, NV?
Median rent in Sparks is $2,072 a month. A typical police officer in Nevada earns about $74,952 a year, which makes that rent 33.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Sparks?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Nevada (~$74,952/yr) supports up to $1,874 a month in rent. Sparks's current median rent is $2,072/mo, which is $198/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Sparks?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a police officer in Nevada works roughly 57.5 hours a month to cover Sparks's median rent of $2,072.
Where is rent cheaper than Sparks for a police officer?
Nearby Nevada cities with lower median rent include Verdi ($2,068/mo), Verdi ($2,066/mo), Verdi ($2,038/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.