Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Sierra Madre, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.8% of gross income.

Sierra Madre rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Sierra Madre median rent
$2,886/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (California)
$77,384/yr
Rent as % of income
44.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,449, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,935/mo in rent. Sierra Madre's median rent of $2,886 exceeds that threshold by $951/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 77.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Sierra Madre, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Antioch, CA
$2,885/mo (44.7% of income)
Camarillo, CA
$2,885/mo (44.7% of income)
Glendora, CA
$2,884/mo (44.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sierra Madre

View full rent data for Sierra Madre, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Sierra Madre, CA?

Median rent in Sierra Madre is $2,886 a month. A typical real estate agent in California earns about $77,384 a year, which makes that rent 44.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Sierra Madre?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in California (~$77,384/yr) supports up to $1,935 a month in rent. Sierra Madre's current median rent is $2,886/mo, which is $951/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Sierra Madre?

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in California works roughly 77.6 hours a month to cover Sierra Madre's median rent of $2,886.

Where is rent cheaper than Sierra Madre for a real estate agent?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Antioch ($2,885/mo), Camarillo ($2,885/mo), Glendora ($2,884/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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