Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Blaine, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 71.2% of gross income.
Blaine 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 Blaine, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Blaine
View full rent data for Blaine, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Blaine, WA?
Median rent in Blaine is $2,429 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 71.2% 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 Blaine?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Blaine's current median rent is $2,429/mo, which is $1,406/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Blaine?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 123.5 hours a month to cover Blaine's median rent of $2,429.
Where is rent cheaper than Blaine for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Newcastle ($2,428/mo), Woodinville ($2,427/mo), Poulsbo ($2,424/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.