Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Beaver Dam, WI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.
Beaver Dam rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Beaver Dam, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Beaver Dam
View full rent data for Beaver Dam, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Beaver Dam, WI?
Median rent in Beaver Dam is $1,252 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Wisconsin earns about $34,704 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Beaver Dam?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Wisconsin (~$34,704/yr) supports up to $868 a month in rent. Beaver Dam's current median rent is $1,252/mo, which is $384/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Beaver Dam?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Wisconsin works roughly 75 hours a month to cover Beaver Dam's median rent of $1,252.
Where is rent cheaper than Beaver Dam for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Kenosha ($1,251/mo), Menomonie ($1,251/mo), Janesville ($1,251/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.