Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Bainbridge Island, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 92.4% of gross income.
Bainbridge Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Bainbridge Island, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bainbridge Island
View full rent data for Bainbridge Island, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Bainbridge Island, WA?
Median rent in Bainbridge Island is $3,151 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 92.4% 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 Bainbridge Island?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Bainbridge Island's current median rent is $3,151/mo, which is $2,128/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Bainbridge Island?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 160.2 hours a month to cover Bainbridge Island's median rent of $3,151.
Where is rent cheaper than Bainbridge Island for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Sammamish ($3,150/mo), Sammamish ($3,137/mo), Sammamish ($3,127/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.