Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Tracy, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.6% of gross income.
Tracy 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 Tracy, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Tracy
View full rent data for Tracy, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Tracy, CA?
Median rent in Tracy is $2,717 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in California earns about $43,105 a year, which makes that rent 75.6% 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 Tracy?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in California (~$43,105/yr) supports up to $1,078 a month in rent. Tracy's current median rent is $2,717/mo, which is $1,639/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Tracy?
At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a waiter or waitress in California works roughly 131.1 hours a month to cover Tracy's median rent of $2,717.
Where is rent cheaper than Tracy for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Belmont ($2,716/mo), Imperial Beach ($2,716/mo), Cathedral City ($2,716/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.