Rent Affordability for Pharmacists in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$132,750/yr
Gross monthly
$11,063
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$3,319/mo
Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest pharmacist pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $165,938/yr | $4,148/mo | View cities › |
| California | $156,645/yr | $3,916/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $153,990/yr | $3,850/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $151,335/yr | $3,783/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $148,680/yr | $3,717/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $148,680/yr | $3,717/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $148,680/yr | $3,717/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $146,025/yr | $3,651/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $143,370/yr | $3,584/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $143,370/yr | $3,584/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest pharmacist pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $107,528/yr | $2,688/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $110,183/yr | $2,755/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $112,838/yr | $2,821/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $114,165/yr | $2,854/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $115,493/yr | $2,887/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $116,820/yr | $2,921/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $116,820/yr | $2,921/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $116,820/yr | $2,921/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $116,820/yr | $2,921/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $116,820/yr | $2,921/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIndianaIowaMissouriTennesseeKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in major US cities?
In nearly all US metros, yes. Even in high-cost coastal cities, pharmacist pay typically stays within the 30% threshold.
What rent can a pharmacist afford?
At the BLS national mean of $132,750, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent.