Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Mount Vernon, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 65% of gross income.
Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Mount Vernon
View full rent data for Mount Vernon, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Mount Vernon, WA?
Median rent in Mount Vernon is $2,217 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 65% 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 Mount Vernon?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Mount Vernon's current median rent is $2,217/mo, which is $1,194/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Mount Vernon?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 112.7 hours a month to cover Mount Vernon's median rent of $2,217.
Where is rent cheaper than Mount Vernon for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Puyallup ($2,216/mo), Edmonds ($2,215/mo), Kenmore ($2,214/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.