Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Waukee, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.1% of gross income.

Waukee rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Waukee median rent
$1,665/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Iowa)
$60,334/yr
Rent as % of income
33.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Waukee's median rent of $1,665 exceeds that threshold by $157/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 57.4 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Waukee, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

North Liberty, IA
$1,655/mo (32.9% of income)
Altoona, IA
$1,639/mo (32.6% of income)
Altoona, IA
$1,622/mo (32.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waukee

View full rent data for Waukee, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Waukee, IA?

Median rent in Waukee is $1,665 a month. A typical real estate agent in Iowa earns about $60,334 a year, which makes that rent 33.1% 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 Waukee?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Iowa (~$60,334/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Waukee's current median rent is $1,665/mo, which is $157/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a real estate agent in Iowa works roughly 57.4 hours a month to cover Waukee's median rent of $1,665.

Where is rent cheaper than Waukee for a real estate agent?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include North Liberty ($1,655/mo), Altoona ($1,639/mo), Altoona ($1,622/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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