Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Issaquah, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 85.9% of gross income.
Issaquah rent: September 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 Issaquah, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Issaquah
View full rent data for Issaquah, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Issaquah, WA?
Median rent in Issaquah is $2,929 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 85.9% 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 Issaquah?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Issaquah's current median rent is $2,929/mo, which is $1,906/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Issaquah?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 148.9 hours a month to cover Issaquah's median rent of $2,929.
Where is rent cheaper than Issaquah for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Maple Valley ($2,916/mo), Maple Valley ($2,914/mo), Bainbridge Island ($2,912/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.