Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Parker, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 72.3% of gross income.

Parker rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Parker median rent
$2,310/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Colorado)
$38,357/yr
Rent as % of income
72.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,196, and the 30% rule supports up to $959/mo in rent. Parker's median rent of $2,310 exceeds that threshold by $1,351/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 125.3 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Parker, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Security-Widefield, CO
$2,308/mo (72.2% of income)
Superior, CO
$2,306/mo (72.1% of income)
Golden, CO
$2,295/mo (71.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Parker

View full rent data for Parker, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Parker, CO?

Median rent in Parker is $2,310 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Colorado earns about $38,357 a year, which makes that rent 72.3% 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 Parker?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Colorado (~$38,357/yr) supports up to $959 a month in rent. Parker's current median rent is $2,310/mo, which is $1,351/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Colorado works roughly 125.3 hours a month to cover Parker's median rent of $2,310.

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

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Security-Widefield ($2,308/mo), Superior ($2,306/mo), Golden ($2,295/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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