Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Waltham, MA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.7% of gross income.

Waltham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Waltham median rent
$3,042/mo
Pharmacist salary (Massachusetts)
$153,990/yr
Rent as % of income
23.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,833, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,850/mo in rent. Waltham's median rent of $3,042 leaves roughly $808/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 41.1 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Waltham, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Bedford, MA
$3,037/mo (23.7% of income)
Watertown, MA
$3,036/mo (23.7% of income)
Watertown, MA
$3,035/mo (23.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waltham

View full rent data for Waltham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Waltham, MA?

Median rent in Waltham is $3,042 a month. A typical pharmacist in Massachusetts earns about $153,990 a year, which makes that rent 23.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Waltham?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Massachusetts (~$153,990/yr) supports up to $3,850 a month in rent. Waltham's current median rent is $3,042/mo, which leaves a $808/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $74 an hour, a pharmacist in Massachusetts works roughly 41.1 hours a month to cover Waltham's median rent of $3,042.

Where is rent cheaper than Waltham for a pharmacist?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($3,037/mo), Watertown ($3,036/mo), Watertown ($3,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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