Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Bellevue, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.7% of gross income.

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

Bellevue median rent
$982/mo
Firefighter salary (Wisconsin)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
19.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Bellevue's median rent of $982 leaves roughly $510/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 34.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a firefighter salary

Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Wisconsin Rapids, WI
$981/mo (19.7% of income)
Green Bay, WI
$979/mo (19.7% of income)
Wausau, WI
$977/mo (19.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bellevue

View full rent data for Bellevue, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Bellevue, WI?

Median rent in Bellevue is $982 a month. A typical firefighter in Wisconsin earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 19.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Bellevue?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Wisconsin (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Bellevue's current median rent is $982/mo, which leaves a $510/mo buffer.

How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Bellevue?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Wisconsin works roughly 34.2 hours a month to cover Bellevue's median rent of $982.

Where is rent cheaper than Bellevue for a firefighter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Wisconsin Rapids ($981/mo), Green Bay ($979/mo), Wausau ($977/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.

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