Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Dover, DE?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.1% of gross income.
Dover rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Dover, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dover
View full rent data for Dover, DE →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Dover, DE?
Median rent in Dover is $1,619 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Delaware earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 52.1% 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 Dover?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Delaware (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Dover's current median rent is $1,619/mo, which is $687/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Dover?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Delaware works roughly 90.4 hours a month to cover Dover's median rent of $1,619.
Where is rent cheaper than Dover for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Claymont ($1,616/mo), Claymont ($1,613/mo), Claymont ($1,611/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.