Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Gillette, WY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.6% of gross income.

Gillette rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wyoming state estimate).

Gillette median rent
$1,249/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Wyoming)
$34,338/yr
Rent as % of income
43.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $858/mo in rent. Gillette's median rent of $1,249 exceeds that threshold by $391/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 75.7 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 Wyoming cities have lower median rent than Gillette, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Casper, WY
$1,230/mo (43% of income)
Laramie, WY
$1,224/mo (42.8% of income)
Casper, WY
$1,223/mo (42.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gillette

View full rent data for Gillette, WY

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Gillette, WY?

Median rent in Gillette is $1,249 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Wyoming earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 43.6% 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 Gillette?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Wyoming (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Gillette's current median rent is $1,249/mo, which is $391/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Wyoming works roughly 75.7 hours a month to cover Gillette's median rent of $1,249.

Where is rent cheaper than Gillette for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Wyoming cities with lower median rent include Casper ($1,230/mo), Laramie ($1,224/mo), Casper ($1,223/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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