Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Waukesha, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.3% of gross income.

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

Waukesha median rent
$1,509/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Wisconsin)
$46,132/yr
Rent as % of income
39.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,844, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,153/mo in rent. Waukesha's median rent of $1,509 exceeds that threshold by $356/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 68 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Waukesha, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,504/mo (39.1% of income)
Oconomowoc, WI
$1,501/mo (39% of income)
Oconomowoc, WI
$1,495/mo (38.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waukesha

View full rent data for Waukesha, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Waukesha, WI?

Median rent in Waukesha is $1,509 a month. A typical dental assistant in Wisconsin earns about $46,132 a year, which makes that rent 39.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Waukesha?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Wisconsin (~$46,132/yr) supports up to $1,153 a month in rent. Waukesha's current median rent is $1,509/mo, which is $356/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Waukesha?

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a dental assistant in Wisconsin works roughly 68 hours a month to cover Waukesha's median rent of $1,509.

Where is rent cheaper than Waukesha for a dental assistant?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Menomonee Falls ($1,504/mo), Oconomowoc ($1,501/mo), Oconomowoc ($1,495/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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