Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Shawano, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.9% of gross income.

Shawano rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Shawano median rent
$789/mo
Firefighter salary (Wisconsin)
$59,670/yr
Rent as % of income
15.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,973, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Shawano's median rent of $789 leaves roughly $703/mo of headroom under that threshold. A firefighter works roughly 27.5 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.

Compare with full rent data for Shawano

View full rent data for Shawano, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a firefighter afford rent in Shawano, WI?

Median rent in Shawano is $789 a month. A typical firefighter in Wisconsin earns about $59,670 a year, which makes that rent 15.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a firefighter afford in Shawano?

Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in Wisconsin (~$59,670/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Shawano's current median rent is $789/mo, which leaves a $703/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a firefighter in Wisconsin works roughly 27.5 hours a month to cover Shawano's median rent of $789.

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