Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Barnegat, NJ?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.8% of gross income.
Barnegat rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Barnegat, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Barnegat
View full rent data for Barnegat, NJ →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Barnegat, NJ?
Median rent in Barnegat is $2,688 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in New Jersey earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 78.8% 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 Barnegat?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in New Jersey (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Barnegat's current median rent is $2,688/mo, which is $1,665/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Barnegat?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in New Jersey works roughly 136.7 hours a month to cover Barnegat's median rent of $2,688.
Where is rent cheaper than Barnegat for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Atlantic Highlands ($2,686/mo), Edison ($2,685/mo), Lyndhurst ($2,685/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.