Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Sedro-Woolley, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.9% of gross income.

Sedro-Woolley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Sedro-Woolley median rent
$1,906/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Washington)
$40,914/yr
Rent as % of income
55.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,410, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,023/mo in rent. Sedro-Woolley's median rent of $1,906 exceeds that threshold by $883/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 96.9 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 Sedro-Woolley, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Lacey, WA
$1,905/mo (55.9% of income)
Olympia, WA
$1,905/mo (55.9% of income)
Pacific, WA
$1,904/mo (55.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sedro-Woolley

View full rent data for Sedro-Woolley, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Sedro-Woolley, WA?

Median rent in Sedro-Woolley is $1,906 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 55.9% 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 Sedro-Woolley?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Sedro-Woolley's current median rent is $1,906/mo, which is $883/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Sedro-Woolley?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 96.9 hours a month to cover Sedro-Woolley's median rent of $1,906.

Where is rent cheaper than Sedro-Woolley for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Lacey ($1,905/mo), Olympia ($1,905/mo), Pacific ($1,904/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 Sedro-Woolley, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.