Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Fredericksburg, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67% of gross income.

Fredericksburg rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Fredericksburg median rent
$2,079/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Virginia)
$37,261/yr
Rent as % of income
67%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,105, and the 30% rule supports up to $932/mo in rent. Fredericksburg's median rent of $2,079 exceeds that threshold by $1,147/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 116.1 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Fredericksburg, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Mechanicsville, VA
$2,078/mo (66.9% of income)
Mechanicsville, VA
$2,076/mo (66.9% of income)
Glen Allen, VA
$2,076/mo (66.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fredericksburg

View full rent data for Fredericksburg, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Fredericksburg, VA?

Median rent in Fredericksburg is $2,079 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Virginia earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 67% 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 Fredericksburg?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Virginia (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Fredericksburg's current median rent is $2,079/mo, which is $1,147/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Virginia works roughly 116.1 hours a month to cover Fredericksburg's median rent of $2,079.

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

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Mechanicsville ($2,078/mo), Mechanicsville ($2,076/mo), Glen Allen ($2,076/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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