Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Cameron, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 74.7% of gross income.

Cameron rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Cameron median rent
$2,137/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (North Carolina)
$34,338/yr
Rent as % of income
74.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $858/mo in rent. Cameron's median rent of $2,137 exceeds that threshold by $1,279/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 129.4 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Cameron, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Vass, NC
$2,133/mo (74.5% of income)
Troutman, NC
$2,112/mo (73.8% of income)
Vass, NC
$2,111/mo (73.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cameron

View full rent data for Cameron, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Cameron, NC?

Median rent in Cameron is $2,137 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in North Carolina earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 74.7% 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 Cameron?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in North Carolina (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Cameron's current median rent is $2,137/mo, which is $1,279/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in North Carolina works roughly 129.4 hours a month to cover Cameron's median rent of $2,137.

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

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Vass ($2,133/mo), Troutman ($2,112/mo), Vass ($2,111/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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