Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Bethesda, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.9% of gross income.

Bethesda rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Bethesda median rent
$2,971/mo
Pharmacist salary (Maryland)
$143,370/yr
Rent as % of income
24.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,948, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,584/mo in rent. Bethesda's median rent of $2,971 leaves roughly $613/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 43.1 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Bethesda, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

North Potomac, MD
$2,960/mo (24.8% of income)
Olney, MD
$2,909/mo (24.3% of income)
Berlin, MD
$2,901/mo (24.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bethesda

View full rent data for Bethesda, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Bethesda, MD?

Median rent in Bethesda is $2,971 a month. A typical pharmacist in Maryland earns about $143,370 a year, which makes that rent 24.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Bethesda?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Maryland (~$143,370/yr) supports up to $3,584 a month in rent. Bethesda's current median rent is $2,971/mo, which leaves a $613/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $69 an hour, a pharmacist in Maryland works roughly 43.1 hours a month to cover Bethesda's median rent of $2,971.

Where is rent cheaper than Bethesda for a pharmacist?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include North Potomac ($2,960/mo), Olney ($2,909/mo), Berlin ($2,901/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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