Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Bethesda, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.9% of gross income.

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

Bethesda median rent
$3,089/mo
Pharmacist salary (Maryland)
$143,370/yr
Rent as % of income
25.9%
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 $3,089 leaves roughly $495/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 44.8 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
$3,082/mo (25.8% of income)
North Potomac, MD
$3,064/mo (25.6% of income)
North Potomac, MD
$3,063/mo (25.6% 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 $3,089 a month. A typical pharmacist in Maryland earns about $143,370 a year, which makes that rent 25.9% 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 $3,089/mo, which leaves a $495/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 44.8 hours a month to cover Bethesda's median rent of $3,089.

Where is rent cheaper than Bethesda for a pharmacist?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include North Potomac ($3,082/mo), North Potomac ($3,064/mo), North Potomac ($3,063/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.