Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Rawlins, WY?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.3% of gross income.
Rawlins rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wyoming 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 Wyoming cities have lower median rent than Rawlins, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Rawlins
View full rent data for Rawlins, WY →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Rawlins, WY?
Median rent in Rawlins is $923 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Wyoming earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 32.3% 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 Rawlins?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Wyoming (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Rawlins's current median rent is $923/mo, which is $65/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Rawlins?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Wyoming works roughly 55.9 hours a month to cover Rawlins's median rent of $923.
Where is rent cheaper than Rawlins for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Wyoming cities with lower median rent include Green River ($900/mo), Riverton ($833/mo), Rock Springs ($828/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.