Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Highland, IL?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.6% of gross income.
Highland rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Highland, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Highland
View full rent data for Highland, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Highland, IL?
Median rent in Highland is $1,200 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Illinois earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 38.6% 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 Highland?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Illinois (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Highland's current median rent is $1,200/mo, which is $268/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Highland?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Illinois works roughly 67 hours a month to cover Highland's median rent of $1,200.
Where is rent cheaper than Highland for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($1,199/mo), Peoria ($1,194/mo), Shiloh ($1,192/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.