Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Fulton, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.9% of gross income.

Fulton rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Fulton median rent
$866/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Missouri)
$33,608/yr
Rent as % of income
30.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,801, and the 30% rule supports up to $840/mo in rent. Fulton's median rent of $866 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Fulton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Boonville, MO
$863/mo (30.8% of income)
Rolla, MO
$846/mo (30.2% of income)
Rolla, MO
$845/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fulton

View full rent data for Fulton, MO →

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Fulton, MO?

Median rent in Fulton is $866 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Missouri earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 30.9% 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 Fulton?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Missouri (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Fulton's current median rent is $866/mo, which is $26/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Missouri works roughly 53.6 hours a month to cover Fulton's median rent of $866.

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

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Boonville ($863/mo), Rolla ($846/mo), Rolla ($845/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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