Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.8% of gross income.
Hilton Head Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Hilton Head Island, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Hilton Head Island
View full rent data for Hilton Head Island, SC →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?
Median rent in Hilton Head Island is $3,106 a month. A typical police officer in South Carolina earns about $67,998 a year, which makes that rent 54.8% 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 Hilton Head Island?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in South Carolina (~$67,998/yr) supports up to $1,700 a month in rent. Hilton Head Island's current median rent is $3,106/mo, which is $1,406/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Hilton Head Island?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a police officer in South Carolina works roughly 95 hours a month to cover Hilton Head Island's median rent of $3,106.
Where is rent cheaper than Hilton Head Island for a police officer?
Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Mount Pleasant ($2,425/mo), Pawleys Island ($2,400/mo), Mount Pleasant ($2,386/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.