Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Inglewood, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 72.5% of gross income.
Inglewood rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
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 California cities have lower median rent than Inglewood, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Inglewood
View full rent data for Inglewood, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Inglewood, CA?
Median rent in Inglewood is $2,605 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in California earns about $43,105 a year, which makes that rent 72.5% 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 Inglewood?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in California (~$43,105/yr) supports up to $1,078 a month in rent. Inglewood's current median rent is $2,605/mo, which is $1,527/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Inglewood?
At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a waiter or waitress in California works roughly 125.7 hours a month to cover Inglewood's median rent of $2,605.
Where is rent cheaper than Inglewood for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Lemon Grove ($2,604/mo), Woodland ($2,604/mo), Montclair ($2,603/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.