Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Waianae, HI?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.4% of gross income.
Waianae rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Waianae, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waianae
View full rent data for Waianae, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Waianae, HI?
Median rent in Waianae is $2,185 a month. A typical police officer in Hawaii earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 31.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Waianae?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Hawaii (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Waianae's current median rent is $2,185/mo, which is $99/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Waianae?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Hawaii works roughly 54.5 hours a month to cover Waianae's median rent of $2,185.
Where is rent cheaper than Waianae for a police officer?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Wahiawa ($2,179/mo), Wahiawa ($2,171/mo), Wahiawa ($2,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.