Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Port Angeles, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.6% of gross income.

Port Angeles rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Port Angeles median rent
$1,759/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Washington)
$40,914/yr
Rent as % of income
51.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,410, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,023/mo in rent. Port Angeles's median rent of $1,759 exceeds that threshold by $736/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 89.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Port Angeles, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Vancouver, WA
$1,758/mo (51.6% of income)
Selah, WA
$1,757/mo (51.5% of income)
Tacoma, WA
$1,755/mo (51.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Port Angeles

View full rent data for Port Angeles, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Port Angeles, WA?

Median rent in Port Angeles is $1,759 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 51.6% 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 Port Angeles?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Port Angeles's current median rent is $1,759/mo, which is $736/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Port Angeles?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 89.4 hours a month to cover Port Angeles's median rent of $1,759.

Where is rent cheaper than Port Angeles for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Vancouver ($1,758/mo), Selah ($1,757/mo), Tacoma ($1,755/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Washington state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Port Angeles, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.