Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Williston, ND?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.5% of gross income.
Williston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Williston, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Williston
View full rent data for Williston, ND →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Williston, ND?
Median rent in Williston is $1,256 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in North Dakota earns about $35,434 a year, which makes that rent 42.5% 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 Williston?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in North Dakota (~$35,434/yr) supports up to $886 a month in rent. Williston's current median rent is $1,256/mo, which is $370/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Williston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in North Dakota works roughly 73.7 hours a month to cover Williston's median rent of $1,256.
Where is rent cheaper than Williston for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Dickinson ($1,255/mo), Bismarck ($1,254/mo), Bismarck ($1,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.