Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Knoxville, IA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.
Knoxville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Knoxville, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Knoxville
View full rent data for Knoxville, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Knoxville, IA?
Median rent in Knoxville is $941 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Iowa earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% 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 Knoxville?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Iowa (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Knoxville's current median rent is $941/mo, which is $101/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Knoxville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Iowa works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Knoxville's median rent of $941.
Where is rent cheaper than Knoxville for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Marshalltown ($934/mo), Davenport ($932/mo), Marshalltown ($932/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.