Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Salem, OR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.8% of gross income.
Salem rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).
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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Salem, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Salem
View full rent data for Salem, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Salem, OR?
Median rent in Salem is $1,585 a month. A typical pharmacist in Oregon earns about $138,060 a year, which makes that rent 13.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Salem?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Oregon (~$138,060/yr) supports up to $3,452 a month in rent. Salem's current median rent is $1,585/mo, which leaves a $1,867/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Salem?
At an hourly equivalent of about $66 an hour, a pharmacist in Oregon works roughly 23.9 hours a month to cover Salem's median rent of $1,585.
Where is rent cheaper than Salem for a pharmacist?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,584/mo), Springfield ($1,583/mo), Happy Valley ($1,582/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.