Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hazelwood, MO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.3% of gross income.
Hazelwood rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Hazelwood, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Hazelwood
View full rent data for Hazelwood, MO →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hazelwood, MO?
Median rent in Hazelwood is $1,438 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Missouri earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 51.3% 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 Hazelwood?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Missouri (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Hazelwood's current median rent is $1,438/mo, which is $598/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Hazelwood?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Missouri works roughly 89 hours a month to cover Hazelwood's median rent of $1,438.
Where is rent cheaper than Hazelwood for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Mehlville ($1,437/mo), Liberty ($1,436/mo), Republic ($1,435/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.