Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Brookfield, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.2% of gross income.

Brookfield rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Brookfield median rent
$2,174/mo
Bartender salary (Wisconsin)
$33,374/yr
Rent as % of income
78.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,781, and the 30% rule supports up to $834/mo in rent. Brookfield's median rent of $2,174 exceeds that threshold by $1,340/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 135.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Brookfield, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Menomonee Falls, WI
$2,128/mo (76.5% of income)
Verona, WI
$2,089/mo (75.1% of income)
Verona, WI
$2,065/mo (74.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookfield

View full rent data for Brookfield, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Brookfield, WI?

Median rent in Brookfield is $2,174 a month. A typical bartender in Wisconsin earns about $33,374 a year, which makes that rent 78.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Brookfield?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Wisconsin (~$33,374/yr) supports up to $834 a month in rent. Brookfield's current median rent is $2,174/mo, which is $1,340/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Brookfield?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Wisconsin works roughly 135.5 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $2,174.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a bartender?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Menomonee Falls ($2,128/mo), Verona ($2,089/mo), Verona ($2,065/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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