Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hillsboro, OR?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.1% of gross income.
Hillsboro rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Hillsboro, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Hillsboro
View full rent data for Hillsboro, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hillsboro, OR?
Median rent in Hillsboro is $1,902 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Oregon earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 60.1% 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 Hillsboro?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Oregon (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Hillsboro's current median rent is $1,902/mo, which is $952/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Hillsboro?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Oregon works roughly 104.1 hours a month to cover Hillsboro's median rent of $1,902.
Where is rent cheaper than Hillsboro for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Garden Home-Whitford ($1,901/mo), Happy Valley ($1,900/mo), Happy Valley ($1,898/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.