Can A Bus Driver Afford Rent in Wausau, WI?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.3% of gross income.
Wausau rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).
About rent and a bus driver salary
Transit bus driver pay sits near the US median household income, with municipal and unionized routes often paying more. At the national-average bus driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,296 a month in rent.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Wausau, which improves the affordability math on a bus driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wausau
View full rent data for Wausau, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a bus driver afford rent in Wausau, WI?
Median rent in Wausau is $954 a month. A typical bus driver in Wisconsin earns about $49,229 a year, which makes that rent 23.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a bus driver afford in Wausau?
Using the 30% rule, a bus driver salary in Wisconsin (~$49,229/yr) supports up to $1,231 a month in rent. Wausau's current median rent is $954/mo, which leaves a $277/mo buffer.
How many hours does a bus driver work to cover rent in Wausau?
At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a bus driver in Wisconsin works roughly 40.3 hours a month to cover Wausau's median rent of $954.
Where is rent cheaper than Wausau for a bus driver?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Wisconsin Rapids ($947/mo), Manitowoc ($942/mo), West Allis ($937/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bus driver salary.