Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Janesville, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.4% of gross income.

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

Janesville median rent
$1,214/mo
Firefighter salary (Wisconsin)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
24.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Janesville's median rent of $1,214 leaves roughly $278/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 42.3 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 Janesville, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:

Madison, WI
$1,212/mo (24.4% of income)
Shorewood, WI
$1,212/mo (24.4% of income)
Chippewa Falls, WI
$1,211/mo (24.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Janesville

View full rent data for Janesville, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Janesville, WI?

Median rent in Janesville is $1,214 a month. A typical firefighter in Wisconsin earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 24.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Janesville?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Wisconsin (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Janesville's current median rent is $1,214/mo, which leaves a $278/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Wisconsin works roughly 42.3 hours a month to cover Janesville's median rent of $1,214.

Where is rent cheaper than Janesville for a firefighter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Madison ($1,212/mo), Shorewood ($1,212/mo), Chippewa Falls ($1,211/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 Janesville, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.