Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Tacoma, WA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.3% of gross income.
Tacoma rent: June 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 Tacoma, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Tacoma
View full rent data for Tacoma, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Tacoma, WA?
Median rent in Tacoma is $1,749 a month. A typical police officer in Washington earns about $86,542 a year, which makes that rent 24.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Tacoma?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Washington (~$86,542/yr) supports up to $2,164 a month in rent. Tacoma's current median rent is $1,749/mo, which leaves a $415/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Tacoma?
At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a police officer in Washington works roughly 42 hours a month to cover Tacoma's median rent of $1,749.
Where is rent cheaper than Tacoma for a police officer?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include La Center ($1,748/mo), Wenatchee ($1,747/mo), Vancouver ($1,747/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.