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

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.7% of gross income.

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

Ward median rent
$1,255/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Arkansas)
$30,320/yr
Rent as % of income
49.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,527, and the 30% rule supports up to $758/mo in rent. Ward's median rent of $1,255 exceeds that threshold by $497/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 86.1 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 Ward, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Fayetteville, AR
$1,252/mo (49.6% of income)
Greenbrier, AR
$1,250/mo (49.5% of income)
Morrilton, AR
$1,250/mo (49.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ward

View full rent data for Ward, AR

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Ward is $1,255 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arkansas earns about $30,320 a year, which makes that rent 49.7% 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 Ward?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arkansas (~$30,320/yr) supports up to $758 a month in rent. Ward's current median rent is $1,255/mo, which is $497/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arkansas works roughly 86.1 hours a month to cover Ward's median rent of $1,255.

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

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fayetteville ($1,252/mo), Greenbrier ($1,250/mo), Morrilton ($1,250/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 Ward, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.