Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Highland, IN?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.6% of gross income.
Highland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana 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 Indiana 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, IN →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Highland, IN?
Median rent in Highland is $1,557 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Indiana earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 55.6% 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 Indiana (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Highland's current median rent is $1,557/mo, which is $717/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 $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Indiana works roughly 96.4 hours a month to cover Highland's median rent of $1,557.
Where is rent cheaper than Highland for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Greenfield ($1,556/mo), Merrillville ($1,555/mo), Greenwood ($1,554/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.