Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Redmond, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.6% of gross income.

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

Redmond median rent
$2,640/mo
Police Officer salary (Washington)
$86,542/yr
Rent as % of income
36.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,212, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,164/mo in rent. Redmond's median rent of $2,640 exceeds that threshold by $476/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 63.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Redmond, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Marysville, WA
$2,639/mo (36.6% of income)
Snohomish, WA
$2,638/mo (36.6% of income)
Lake Stevens, WA
$2,638/mo (36.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Redmond

View full rent data for Redmond, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Redmond, WA?

Median rent in Redmond is $2,640 a month. A typical police officer in Washington earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 36.6% 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 Redmond?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Washington (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Redmond's current median rent is $2,640/mo, which is $476/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Redmond?

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in Washington works roughly 63.5 hours a month to cover Redmond's median rent of $2,640.

Where is rent cheaper than Redmond for a police officer?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Marysville ($2,639/mo), Snohomish ($2,638/mo), Lake Stevens ($2,638/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Washington state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Redmond, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.