Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Wauwatosa, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.5% of gross income.

Wauwatosa rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Wauwatosa median rent
$1,686/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Wisconsin)
$62,301/yr
Rent as % of income
32.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,192, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,558/mo in rent. Wauwatosa's median rent of $1,686 exceeds that threshold by $128/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 56.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Wauwatosa, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Mount Pleasant, WI
$1,685/mo (32.5% of income)
Mount Pleasant, WI
$1,684/mo (32.4% of income)
Franklin, WI
$1,684/mo (32.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wauwatosa

View full rent data for Wauwatosa, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Wauwatosa, WI?

Median rent in Wauwatosa is $1,686 a month. A typical real estate agent in Wisconsin earns about $62,301 a year, which makes that rent 32.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Wauwatosa?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Wisconsin (~$62,301/yr) supports up to $1,558 a month in rent. Wauwatosa's current median rent is $1,686/mo, which is $128/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Wauwatosa?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a real estate agent in Wisconsin works roughly 56.3 hours a month to cover Wauwatosa's median rent of $1,686.

Where is rent cheaper than Wauwatosa for a real estate agent?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Mount Pleasant ($1,685/mo), Mount Pleasant ($1,684/mo), Franklin ($1,684/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Wisconsin state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Wauwatosa, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.