Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Eau Claire, WI?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.8% of gross income.
Eau Claire rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Eau Claire, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Eau Claire
View full rent data for Eau Claire, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Eau Claire, WI?
Median rent in Eau Claire is $1,214 a month. A typical police officer in Wisconsin earns about $73,407 a year, which makes that rent 19.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Eau Claire?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Wisconsin (~$73,407/yr) supports up to $1,835 a month in rent. Eau Claire's current median rent is $1,214/mo, which leaves a $621/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Eau Claire?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Wisconsin works roughly 34.4 hours a month to cover Eau Claire's median rent of $1,214.
Where is rent cheaper than Eau Claire for a police officer?
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 police officer salary.