Can A Chef Afford Rent in Beaver Dam, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

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

Beaver Dam median rent
$1,252/mo
Chef salary (Wisconsin)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Beaver Dam's median rent of $1,252 leaves roughly $272/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Beaver Dam, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Kenosha, WI
$1,251/mo (24.6% of income)
Menomonie, WI
$1,251/mo (24.6% of income)
Janesville, WI
$1,251/mo (24.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Beaver Dam

View full rent data for Beaver Dam, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Beaver Dam, WI?

Median rent in Beaver Dam is $1,252 a month. A typical chef in Wisconsin earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Beaver Dam?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wisconsin (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Beaver Dam's current median rent is $1,252/mo, which leaves a $272/mo buffer.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Beaver Dam?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wisconsin works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover Beaver Dam's median rent of $1,252.

Where is rent cheaper than Beaver Dam for a chef?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Kenosha ($1,251/mo), Menomonie ($1,251/mo), Janesville ($1,251/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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