Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Springfield, MO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.9% of gross income.
Springfield rent: June 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 Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Springfield
View full rent data for Springfield, MO →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Springfield, MO?
Median rent in Springfield is $1,230 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Missouri earns about $33,608 a year, which makes that rent 43.9% 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 Springfield?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Missouri (~$33,608/yr) supports up to $840 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,230/mo, which is $390/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Springfield?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Missouri works roughly 76.1 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,230.
Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Spanish Lake ($1,229/mo), Saint Ann ($1,228/mo), Maplewood ($1,228/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.