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Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Wilmington, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.6% of gross income.

Wilmington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Wilmington median rent
$1,757/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Delaware)
$37,261/yr
Rent as % of income
56.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,105, and the 30% rule supports up to $932/mo in rent. Wilmington's median rent of $1,757 exceeds that threshold by $825/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 98.1 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Bear, DE
$1,749/mo (56.3% of income)
Claymont, DE
$1,727/mo (55.6% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,716/mo (55.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilmington

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Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Wilmington, DE?

Median rent in Wilmington is $1,757 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Delaware earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 56.6% 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 Wilmington?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Delaware (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $1,757/mo, which is $825/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Delaware works roughly 98.1 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $1,757.

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

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Bear ($1,749/mo), Claymont ($1,727/mo), New Castle ($1,716/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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