Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in DuBois, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.

DuBois rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

DuBois median rent
$1,045/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Pennsylvania)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
34.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. DuBois's median rent of $1,045 exceeds that threshold by $141/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 60.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than DuBois, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Butler, PA
$1,042/mo (34.6% of income)
Bloomsburg, PA
$1,039/mo (34.5% of income)
Erie, PA
$1,038/mo (34.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for DuBois

View full rent data for DuBois, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in DuBois, PA?

Median rent in DuBois is $1,045 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% 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 DuBois?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. DuBois's current median rent is $1,045/mo, which is $141/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in DuBois?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 60.1 hours a month to cover DuBois's median rent of $1,045.

Where is rent cheaper than DuBois for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Butler ($1,042/mo), Bloomsburg ($1,039/mo), Erie ($1,038/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Pennsylvania state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for DuBois, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.