To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in Wisconsin needs to pay from $21.75 an hour in Marinette County to $36.47 in Dane County, before taxes. The middle county is Waupaca County at $24.73.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $26.39/hr | $860/mo |
| Ashland County | $23.41/hr | $770/mo |
| Barron County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Bayfield County | $21.92/hr | $725/mo |
| Brown County | $31.20/hr | $1,005/mo |
| Buffalo County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Burnett County | $23.41/hr | $770/mo |
| Calumet County | $23.91/hr | $785/mo |
| Chippewa County | $27.05/hr | $880/mo |
| Clark County | $25.07/hr | $820/mo |
| Columbia County | $31.03/hr | $1,000/mo |
| Crawford County | $22.08/hr | $730/mo |
| Dane County | $36.47/hr | $1,155/mo |
| Dodge County | $23.41/hr | $770/mo |
| Door County | $28.05/hr | $910/mo |
| Douglas County | $23.41/hr | $770/mo |
| Dunn County | $26.06/hr | $850/mo |
| Eau Claire County | $32.03/hr | $1,030/mo |
| Florence County | $24.73/hr | $810/mo |
| Fond du Lac County | $25.40/hr | $830/mo |
| Forest County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Grant County | $23.74/hr | $780/mo |
| Green County | $24.73/hr | $810/mo |
| Green Lake County | $22.75/hr | $750/mo |
| Iowa County | $26.39/hr | $860/mo |
| Iron County | $23.24/hr | $765/mo |
| Jackson County | $21.92/hr | $725/mo |
| Jefferson County | $27.72/hr | $900/mo |
| Juneau County | $23.74/hr | $780/mo |
| Kenosha County | $35.70/hr | $1,135/mo |
| Kewaunee County | $27.05/hr | $880/mo |
| La Crosse County | $29.21/hr | $945/mo |
| Lafayette County | $22.91/hr | $755/mo |
| Langlade County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Lincoln County | $23.91/hr | $785/mo |
| Manitowoc County | $24.07/hr | $790/mo |
| Marathon County | $24.73/hr | $810/mo |
| Marinette County | $21.75/hr | $720/mo |
| Marquette County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Menominee County | $22.15/hr | $732/mo |
| Milwaukee County | $30.04/hr | $970/mo |
| Monroe County | $22.08/hr | $730/mo |
| Oconto County | $23.41/hr | $770/mo |
| Oneida County | $25.73/hr | $840/mo |
| Outagamie County | $27.88/hr | $905/mo |
| Ozaukee County | $28.88/hr | $935/mo |
| Pepin County | $35.13/hr | $1,120/mo |
| Pierce County | $35.13/hr | $1,120/mo |
| Polk County | $23.24/hr | $765/mo |
| Portage County | $21.92/hr | $725/mo |
| Price County | $24.24/hr | $795/mo |
| Racine County | $30.37/hr | $980/mo |
| Richland County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Rock County | $30.53/hr | $985/mo |
| Rusk County | $22.41/hr | $740/mo |
| Sauk County | $25.73/hr | $840/mo |
| Sawyer County | $25.40/hr | $830/mo |
| Shawano County | $24.07/hr | $790/mo |
| Sheboygan County | $24.73/hr | $810/mo |
| St. Croix County | $35.13/hr | $1,120/mo |
| Taylor County | $23.24/hr | $765/mo |
| Trempealeau County | $24.90/hr | $815/mo |
| Vernon County | $22.08/hr | $730/mo |
| Vilas County | $24.73/hr | $810/mo |
| Walworth County | $26.39/hr | $860/mo |
| Washburn County | $22.08/hr | $730/mo |
| Washington County | $30.70/hr | $990/mo |
| Waukesha County | $35.89/hr | $1,140/mo |
| Waupaca County | $24.73/hr | $810/mo |
| Waushara County | $23.57/hr | $775/mo |
| Winnebago County | $28.05/hr | $910/mo |
| Wood County | $22.08/hr | $730/mo |
The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent?