Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hutchinson, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31% of gross income.

Hutchinson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Hutchinson median rent
$848/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Kansas)
$32,877/yr
Rent as % of income
31%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,740, and the 30% rule supports up to $822/mo in rent. Hutchinson's median rent of $848 exceeds that threshold by $26/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 53.6 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Hutchinson, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Newton, KS
$846/mo (30.9% of income)
Emporia, KS
$846/mo (30.9% of income)
Topeka, KS
$843/mo (30.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hutchinson

View full rent data for Hutchinson, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hutchinson, KS?

Median rent in Hutchinson is $848 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Kansas earns about $32,877 a year, which makes that rent 31% 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 Hutchinson?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Kansas (~$32,877/yr) supports up to $822 a month in rent. Hutchinson's current median rent is $848/mo, which is $26/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Kansas works roughly 53.6 hours a month to cover Hutchinson's median rent of $848.

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

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Newton ($846/mo), Emporia ($846/mo), Topeka ($843/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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