Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Wailuku, HI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.1% of gross income.
Wailuku rent: June 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 Wailuku, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wailuku
View full rent data for Wailuku, HI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Wailuku, HI?
Median rent in Wailuku is $3,691 a month. A typical police officer in Hawaii earns about $83,452 a year, which makes that rent 53.1% 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 Wailuku?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Hawaii (~$83,452/yr) supports up to $2,086 a month in rent. Wailuku's current median rent is $3,691/mo, which is $1,605/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Wailuku?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, a police officer in Hawaii works roughly 92 hours a month to cover Wailuku's median rent of $3,691.
Where is rent cheaper than Wailuku for a police officer?
Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua Kona ($3,652/mo), Kihei ($3,642/mo), Kailua ($3,626/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.