Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Erie, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 9.9% of gross income.

Erie rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Erie median rent
$1,089/mo
Pharmacist salary (Pennsylvania)
$131,423/yr
Rent as % of income
9.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,952, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,286/mo in rent. Erie's median rent of $1,089 leaves roughly $2,197/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 17.2 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Erie, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Pittston, PA
$1,088/mo (9.9% of income)
New Castle, PA
$1,086/mo (9.9% of income)
Shippensburg, PA
$1,085/mo (9.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Erie

View full rent data for Erie, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Erie, PA?

Median rent in Erie is $1,089 a month. A typical pharmacist in Pennsylvania earns about $131,423 a year, which makes that rent 9.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Erie?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Pennsylvania (~$131,423/yr) supports up to $3,286 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $1,089/mo, which leaves a $2,197/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $63 an hour, a pharmacist in Pennsylvania works roughly 17.2 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $1,089.

Where is rent cheaper than Erie for a pharmacist?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Pittston ($1,088/mo), New Castle ($1,086/mo), Shippensburg ($1,085/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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