Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Des Moines, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 59% of gross income.
Des Moines 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 Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Des Moines, WA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $2,013 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 59% 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 Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $2,013/mo, which is $990/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 102.3 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $2,013.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Olympia ($2,012/mo), Burlington ($2,011/mo), Ridgefield ($2,011/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.