Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Seatac, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.5% of gross income.
Seatac 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 Seatac, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Seatac
View full rent data for Seatac, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Seatac, WA?
Median rent in Seatac is $1,996 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 58.5% 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 Seatac?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Seatac's current median rent is $1,996/mo, which is $973/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Seatac?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 101.5 hours a month to cover Seatac's median rent of $1,996.
Where is rent cheaper than Seatac for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Des Moines ($1,995/mo), Auburn ($1,995/mo), Ferndale ($1,994/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.