Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Hickory, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.1% of gross income.

Hickory rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Hickory median rent
$1,463/mo
Pharmacist salary (North Carolina)
$124,785/yr
Rent as % of income
14.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,399, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,120/mo in rent. Hickory's median rent of $1,463 leaves roughly $1,657/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 24.4 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Hickory, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

China Grove, NC
$1,462/mo (14.1% of income)
Winterville, NC
$1,462/mo (14.1% of income)
Wake Forest, NC
$1,461/mo (14% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hickory

View full rent data for Hickory, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Hickory, NC?

Median rent in Hickory is $1,463 a month. A typical pharmacist in North Carolina earns about $124,785 a year, which makes that rent 14.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Hickory?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in North Carolina (~$124,785/yr) supports up to $3,120 a month in rent. Hickory's current median rent is $1,463/mo, which leaves a $1,657/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $60 an hour, a pharmacist in North Carolina works roughly 24.4 hours a month to cover Hickory's median rent of $1,463.

Where is rent cheaper than Hickory for a pharmacist?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include China Grove ($1,462/mo), Winterville ($1,462/mo), Wake Forest ($1,461/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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