Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Centralia, WA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.9% of gross income.
Centralia rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Centralia, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Centralia
View full rent data for Centralia, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Centralia, WA?
Median rent in Centralia is $1,433 a month. A typical police officer in Washington earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 19.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Centralia?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Washington (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Centralia's current median rent is $1,433/mo, which leaves a $731/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Centralia?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in Washington works roughly 34.4 hours a month to cover Centralia's median rent of $1,433.
Where is rent cheaper than Centralia for a police officer?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ellensburg ($1,432/mo), Ellensburg ($1,431/mo), Spokane ($1,430/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.