Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Queen Creek, AZ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 72.9% of gross income.

Queen Creek rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Queen Creek median rent
$2,153/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Arizona)
$35,434/yr
Rent as % of income
72.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,953, and the 30% rule supports up to $886/mo in rent. Queen Creek's median rent of $2,153 exceeds that threshold by $1,267/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 126.4 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Queen Creek, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Anthem, AZ
$2,152/mo (72.9% of income)
Anthem, AZ
$2,150/mo (72.8% of income)
Marana, AZ
$2,147/mo (72.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Queen Creek

View full rent data for Queen Creek, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Queen Creek, AZ?

Median rent in Queen Creek is $2,153 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arizona earns about $35,434 a year, which makes that rent 72.9% 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 Queen Creek?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arizona (~$35,434/yr) supports up to $886 a month in rent. Queen Creek's current median rent is $2,153/mo, which is $1,267/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arizona works roughly 126.4 hours a month to cover Queen Creek's median rent of $2,153.

Where is rent cheaper than Queen Creek for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Anthem ($2,152/mo), Anthem ($2,150/mo), Marana ($2,147/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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