Can A Customer Service Representative Afford Rent in Oak Ridge, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.5% of gross income.

Oak Ridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Oak Ridge median rent
$1,673/mo
Customer Service Representative salary (Tennessee)
$39,017/yr
Rent as % of income
51.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,251, and the 30% rule supports up to $975/mo in rent. Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673 exceeds that threshold by $698/mo, putting a customer service representative salary into the rent-burdened range here. A customer service representative works roughly 89.2 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Oak Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a customer service representative salary:

Dickson, TN
$1,672/mo (51.4% of income)
Hixson, TN
$1,672/mo (51.4% of income)
Gallatin, TN
$1,670/mo (51.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oak Ridge

View full rent data for Oak Ridge, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a customer service representative afford rent in Oak Ridge, TN?

Median rent in Oak Ridge is $1,673 a month. A typical customer service representative in Tennessee earns about $39,017 a year, which makes that rent 51.5% 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 Oak Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a customer service representative salary in Tennessee (~$39,017/yr) supports up to $975 a month in rent. Oak Ridge's current median rent is $1,673/mo, which is $698/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a customer service representative work to cover rent in Oak Ridge?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a customer service representative in Tennessee works roughly 89.2 hours a month to cover Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673.

Where is rent cheaper than Oak Ridge for a customer service representative?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dickson ($1,672/mo), Hixson ($1,672/mo), Gallatin ($1,670/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a customer service representative salary.

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