Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Waukegan, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.7% of gross income.

Waukegan rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Waukegan median rent
$1,660/mo
Pharmacist salary (Illinois)
$135,405/yr
Rent as % of income
14.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,284, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,385/mo in rent. Waukegan's median rent of $1,660 leaves roughly $1,725/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 25.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Waukegan, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Joliet, IL
$1,656/mo (14.7% of income)
Sycamore, IL
$1,656/mo (14.7% of income)
Oak Lawn, IL
$1,654/mo (14.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waukegan

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Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Waukegan, IL?

Median rent in Waukegan is $1,660 a month. A typical pharmacist in Illinois earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 14.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Waukegan?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Illinois (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Waukegan's current median rent is $1,660/mo, which leaves a $1,725/mo buffer.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Waukegan?

At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Illinois works roughly 25.5 hours a month to cover Waukegan's median rent of $1,660.

Where is rent cheaper than Waukegan for a pharmacist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Joliet ($1,656/mo), Sycamore ($1,656/mo), Oak Lawn ($1,654/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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