Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Gaithersburg, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.4% of gross income.

Gaithersburg rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Gaithersburg median rent
$2,196/mo
Pharmacist salary (Maryland)
$143,370/yr
Rent as % of income
18.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,948, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,584/mo in rent. Gaithersburg's median rent of $2,196 leaves roughly $1,388/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 31.9 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 Gaithersburg, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Columbia, MD
$2,195/mo (18.4% of income)
Severn, MD
$2,193/mo (18.4% of income)
Ijamsville, MD
$2,193/mo (18.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gaithersburg

View full rent data for Gaithersburg, MD →

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Gaithersburg, MD?

Median rent in Gaithersburg is $2,196 a month. A typical pharmacist in Maryland earns about $143,370 a year, which makes that rent 18.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Gaithersburg?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Maryland (~$143,370/yr) supports up to $3,584 a month in rent. Gaithersburg's current median rent is $2,196/mo, which leaves a $1,388/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $69 an hour, a pharmacist in Maryland works roughly 31.9 hours a month to cover Gaithersburg's median rent of $2,196.

Where is rent cheaper than Gaithersburg for a pharmacist?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Columbia ($2,195/mo), Severn ($2,193/mo), Ijamsville ($2,193/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 Gaithersburg, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.