Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Waukesha, WI?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.4% of gross income.
Waukesha 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 Waukesha, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waukesha
View full rent data for Waukesha, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Waukesha, WI?
Median rent in Waukesha is $1,490 a month. A typical police officer in Wisconsin earns about $73,407 a year, which makes that rent 24.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Waukesha?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Wisconsin (~$73,407/yr) supports up to $1,835 a month in rent. Waukesha's current median rent is $1,490/mo, which leaves a $345/mo buffer.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Waukesha?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Wisconsin works roughly 42.2 hours a month to cover Waukesha's median rent of $1,490.
Where is rent cheaper than Waukesha for a police officer?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Milwaukee ($1,469/mo), Milwaukee ($1,461/mo), West Allis ($1,454/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.