Can You Afford Rent on Your Salary? Affordability by Profession
Pick a profession to see local rent compared against typical pay across 4,000+ US cities. The pages apply the 30% rule (rent should be no more than 30% of gross income) to highlight where rent stays comfortably in range and where it pushes into rent-burdened territory.
Salary inputs: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent data: ZORI. Last refreshed May 2026.
Rent affordability for Registered Nurses
Affordable rent (30% rule): $2,362/mo
Compare local rent to typical RN pay across US cities to see which markets are affordable on a nursing income.
Rent affordability for Elementary School Teachers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,677/mo
See where local rent is affordable on an elementary teacher salary, and where teacher pay falls short of local rent.
Rent affordability for Police Officers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,932/mo
Local rent vs typical police-officer pay across US cities, showing where officers can comfortably afford to live in the area they patrol.
Rent affordability for Software Developers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $3,453/mo
Local rent vs typical software-developer pay across US cities. Find markets with the largest affordability surplus.
Rent affordability for Lawyers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $4,412/mo
Local rent vs lawyer pay across US cities, showing where the affordability surplus is largest.
Rent affordability for Firefighters
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,570/mo
Where local rent stays within reach on a typical firefighter base salary, and where it stretches the 30% rule.
Rent affordability for Truck Drivers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,418/mo
Local rent vs heavy-truck-driver pay across US cities, showing where rent stays affordable on a driver income.
Rent affordability for Electricians
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,748/mo
Where local rent is affordable on a journeyman electrician salary, and where it pushes past the 30% threshold.
Rent affordability for Plumbers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,678/mo
Local rent vs plumber pay across US cities, showing which metros are comfortable and which are rent-stretched.
Rent affordability for Waiters and Waitresses
Affordable rent (30% rule): $913/mo
Where local rent is realistic on declared server pay, and where it forces roommates or a second income.
Rent affordability for Retail Salespeople
Affordable rent (30% rule): $927/mo
Local rent vs retail-pay across US cities, showing where retail income alone covers rent and where it does not.
Rent affordability for Accountants and Auditors
Affordable rent (30% rule): $2,270/mo
Local rent vs accountant pay across US cities, showing affordability across the country.
Rent affordability for Auto Mechanics
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,282/mo
Local rent vs auto-mechanic pay across US cities, showing where rent fits within the 30% rule.
Rent affordability for Pharmacists
Affordable rent (30% rule): $3,319/mo
Local rent vs pharmacist pay across US cities. Most markets are comfortably affordable.
Rent affordability for Physical Therapists
Affordable rent (30% rule): $2,493/mo
Local rent vs physical-therapist pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Licensed Practical Nurses
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,520/mo
Local rent vs LPN pay across US cities, showing where rent fits within the 30% rule.
Rent affordability for Nursing Assistants
Affordable rent (30% rule): $990/mo
Local rent vs nursing-assistant pay across US cities. The affordability gap is widely studied.
Rent affordability for Paramedics
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,330/mo
Local rent vs paramedic / EMT pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Dental Assistants
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,214/mo
Local rent vs dental-assistant pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Dental Hygienists
Affordable rent (30% rule): $2,188/mo
Local rent vs dental-hygienist pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Carpenters
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,524/mo
Local rent vs carpenter pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for HVAC Technicians
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,433/mo
Local rent vs HVAC technician pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Welders
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,285/mo
Local rent vs welder pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Bus Drivers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,296/mo
Local rent vs transit and school bus driver pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Chefs and Head Cooks
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,604/mo
Local rent vs chef and head cook pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Bartenders
Affordable rent (30% rule): $878/mo
Local rent vs bartender pay across US cities. Real take-home often exceeds the BLS figure.
Rent affordability for Real Estate Agents
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,640/mo
Local rent vs real-estate-agent pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Marketing Managers
Affordable rent (30% rule): $4,160/mo
Local rent vs marketing-manager pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Financial Analysts
Affordable rent (30% rule): $2,584/mo
Local rent vs financial-analyst pay across US cities.
Rent affordability for Customer Service Representatives
Affordable rent (30% rule): $1,060/mo
Local rent vs customer-service-rep pay across US cities.