Can A Customer Service Representative Afford Rent in Wilkes-Barre, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.8% of gross income.

Wilkes-Barre rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Wilkes-Barre median rent
$1,358/mo
Customer Service Representative salary (Pennsylvania)
$41,986/yr
Rent as % of income
38.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,499, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,050/mo in rent. Wilkes-Barre's median rent of $1,358 exceeds that threshold by $308/mo, putting a customer service representative salary into the rent-burdened range here. A customer service representative works roughly 67.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a customer service representative salary

Customer service rep pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US metros. At the national-average CSR salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,060 a month in rent, which is below median rent in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Wilkes-Barre, which improves the affordability math on a customer service representative salary:

Hanover, PA
$1,356/mo (38.8% of income)
Harrisburg, PA
$1,355/mo (38.7% of income)
Munhall, PA
$1,353/mo (38.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wilkes-Barre

View full rent data for Wilkes-Barre, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a customer service representative afford rent in Wilkes-Barre, PA?

Median rent in Wilkes-Barre is $1,358 a month. A typical customer service representative in Pennsylvania earns about $41,986 a year, which makes that rent 38.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a customer service representative afford in Wilkes-Barre?

Using the 30% rule, a customer service representative salary in Pennsylvania (~$41,986/yr) supports up to $1,050 a month in rent. Wilkes-Barre's current median rent is $1,358/mo, which is $308/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a customer service representative work to cover rent in Wilkes-Barre?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a customer service representative in Pennsylvania works roughly 67.3 hours a month to cover Wilkes-Barre's median rent of $1,358.

Where is rent cheaper than Wilkes-Barre for a customer service representative?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Hanover ($1,356/mo), Harrisburg ($1,355/mo), Munhall ($1,353/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a customer service representative salary.

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