Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Shoreline, WA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.9% of gross income.
Shoreline rent: June 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 Shoreline, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Shoreline
View full rent data for Shoreline, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Shoreline, WA?
Median rent in Shoreline is $2,042 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 59.9% 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 Shoreline?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Shoreline's current median rent is $2,042/mo, which is $1,019/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Shoreline?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 103.8 hours a month to cover Shoreline's median rent of $2,042.
Where is rent cheaper than Shoreline for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Tukwila ($2,040/mo), Sumner ($2,036/mo), Liberty Lake ($2,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.