Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Liberty Lake, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.8% of gross income.
Liberty Lake 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 Liberty Lake, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Liberty Lake
View full rent data for Liberty Lake, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Liberty Lake, WA?
Median rent in Liberty Lake is $1,834 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 53.8% 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 Liberty Lake?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Liberty Lake's current median rent is $1,834/mo, which is $811/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Liberty Lake?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 93.2 hours a month to cover Liberty Lake's median rent of $1,834.
Where is rent cheaper than Liberty Lake for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bremerton ($1,832/mo), Steilacoom ($1,832/mo), Burien ($1,832/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.