Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Jacksonville, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.

Jacksonville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Jacksonville median rent
$1,093/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Arkansas)
$30,320/yr
Rent as % of income
43.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,527, and the 30% rule supports up to $758/mo in rent. Jacksonville's median rent of $1,093 exceeds that threshold by $335/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 75 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Jacksonville, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Mountain Home, AR
$1,092/mo (43.2% of income)
Sherwood, AR
$1,091/mo (43.2% of income)
Mountain Home, AR
$1,086/mo (43% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jacksonville

View full rent data for Jacksonville, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Jacksonville, AR?

Median rent in Jacksonville is $1,093 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arkansas earns about $30,320 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Jacksonville?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arkansas (~$30,320/yr) supports up to $758 a month in rent. Jacksonville's current median rent is $1,093/mo, which is $335/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Jacksonville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arkansas works roughly 75 hours a month to cover Jacksonville's median rent of $1,093.

Where is rent cheaper than Jacksonville for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Mountain Home ($1,092/mo), Sherwood ($1,091/mo), Mountain Home ($1,086/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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