Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Washington, DC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.9% of gross income.

Washington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (District of Columbia state estimate).

Washington median rent
$2,532/mo
Truck Driver salary (District of Columbia)
$70,888/yr
Rent as % of income
42.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,907, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,772/mo in rent. Washington's median rent of $2,532 exceeds that threshold by $760/mo, putting a truck driver salary into the rent-burdened range here. A truck driver works roughly 74.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a truck driver salary

Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.

Compare with full rent data for Washington

View full rent data for Washington, DC

Frequently asked questions

Can a truck driver afford rent in Washington, DC?

Median rent in Washington is $2,532 a month. A typical truck driver in District of Columbia earns about $70,888 a year, which makes that rent 42.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a truck driver afford in Washington?

Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in District of Columbia (~$70,888/yr) supports up to $1,772 a month in rent. Washington's current median rent is $2,532/mo, which is $760/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Washington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a truck driver in District of Columbia works roughly 74.3 hours a month to cover Washington's median rent of $2,532.

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