Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Saint Helens, OR?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.1% of gross income.
Saint Helens 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 Saint Helens, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Saint Helens
View full rent data for Saint Helens, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Saint Helens, OR?
Median rent in Saint Helens is $1,777 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Oregon earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 56.1% 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 Saint Helens?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Oregon (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Saint Helens's current median rent is $1,777/mo, which is $827/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Saint Helens?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Oregon works roughly 97.3 hours a month to cover Saint Helens's median rent of $1,777.
Where is rent cheaper than Saint Helens for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Fairview ($1,776/mo), Rockcreek ($1,776/mo), Rockcreek ($1,775/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.