Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Pawtucket, RI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.1% of gross income.
Pawtucket rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Pawtucket, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Pawtucket
View full rent data for Pawtucket, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Pawtucket, RI?
Median rent in Pawtucket is $1,872 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Rhode Island earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 59.1% 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 Pawtucket?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Rhode Island (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Pawtucket's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which is $922/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Pawtucket?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Rhode Island works roughly 102.5 hours a month to cover Pawtucket's median rent of $1,872.
Where is rent cheaper than Pawtucket for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Lincoln ($1,865/mo), West Warwick ($1,848/mo), Lincoln ($1,837/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.