Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Superior, WI?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.6% of gross income.
Superior rent: July 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 Superior, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Superior
View full rent data for Superior, WI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Superior, WI?
Median rent in Superior is $1,144 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Wisconsin earns about $34,704 a year, which makes that rent 39.6% 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 Superior?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Wisconsin (~$34,704/yr) supports up to $868 a month in rent. Superior's current median rent is $1,144/mo, which is $276/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Superior?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Wisconsin works roughly 68.6 hours a month to cover Superior's median rent of $1,144.
Where is rent cheaper than Superior for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Racine ($1,143/mo), Oshkosh ($1,142/mo), Racine ($1,141/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.