Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Graham, NC?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.3% of gross income.
Graham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Graham, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Graham
View full rent data for Graham, NC →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Graham, NC?
Median rent in Graham is $1,382 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in North Carolina earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 48.3% 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 Graham?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in North Carolina (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Graham's current median rent is $1,382/mo, which is $524/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Graham?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in North Carolina works roughly 83.7 hours a month to cover Graham's median rent of $1,382.
Where is rent cheaper than Graham for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Wilson ($1,381/mo), Greensboro ($1,381/mo), Jacksonville ($1,377/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.