Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Oshkosh, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.4% of gross income.

Oshkosh rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Oshkosh median rent
$1,208/mo
Bartender salary (Wisconsin)
$33,374/yr
Rent as % of income
43.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,781, and the 30% rule supports up to $834/mo in rent. Oshkosh's median rent of $1,208 exceeds that threshold by $374/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 75.3 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 Oshkosh, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Chippewa Falls, WI
$1,207/mo (43.4% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,206/mo (43.4% of income)
Appleton, WI
$1,206/mo (43.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oshkosh

View full rent data for Oshkosh, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Oshkosh, WI?

Median rent in Oshkosh is $1,208 a month. A typical bartender in Wisconsin earns about $33,374 a year, which makes that rent 43.4% 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 Oshkosh?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Wisconsin (~$33,374/yr) supports up to $834 a month in rent. Oshkosh's current median rent is $1,208/mo, which is $374/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Wisconsin works roughly 75.3 hours a month to cover Oshkosh's median rent of $1,208.

Where is rent cheaper than Oshkosh for a bartender?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Chippewa Falls ($1,207/mo), Menasha ($1,206/mo), Appleton ($1,206/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 Oshkosh, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.