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Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hazel Crest, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 80.6% of gross income.

Hazel Crest rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Hazel Crest median rent
$2,503/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Illinois)
$37,261/yr
Rent as % of income
80.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,105, and the 30% rule supports up to $932/mo in rent. Hazel Crest's median rent of $2,503 exceeds that threshold by $1,571/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 139.7 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Hazel Crest, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Morton Grove, IL
$2,502/mo (80.6% of income)
Oswego, IL
$2,500/mo (80.5% of income)
Deerfield, IL
$2,499/mo (80.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hazel Crest

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Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hazel Crest, IL?

Median rent in Hazel Crest is $2,503 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Illinois earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 80.6% 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 Hazel Crest?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Illinois (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Hazel Crest's current median rent is $2,503/mo, which is $1,571/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Illinois works roughly 139.7 hours a month to cover Hazel Crest's median rent of $2,503.

Where is rent cheaper than Hazel Crest for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Morton Grove ($2,502/mo), Oswego ($2,500/mo), Deerfield ($2,499/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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