Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Maple Valley, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 90% of gross income.
Maple Valley rent: July 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 Maple Valley, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Maple Valley
View full rent data for Maple Valley, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Maple Valley, WA?
Median rent in Maple Valley is $3,070 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 90% 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 Maple Valley?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Maple Valley's current median rent is $3,070/mo, which is $2,047/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Maple Valley?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 156.1 hours a month to cover Maple Valley's median rent of $3,070.
Where is rent cheaper than Maple Valley for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bainbridge Island ($3,050/mo), Issaquah ($3,031/mo), Lake Stevens ($3,023/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.