Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in State College, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.2% of gross income.

State College rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

State College median rent
$1,888/mo
Pharmacist salary (Pennsylvania)
$131,423/yr
Rent as % of income
17.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,952, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,286/mo in rent. State College's median rent of $1,888 leaves roughly $1,398/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 29.9 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than State College, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Wyncote, PA
$1,887/mo (17.2% of income)
Whitehall, PA
$1,887/mo (17.2% of income)
North Wales, PA
$1,886/mo (17.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for State College

View full rent data for State College, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in State College, PA?

Median rent in State College is $1,888 a month. A typical pharmacist in Pennsylvania earns about $131,423 a year, which makes that rent 17.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in State College?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Pennsylvania (~$131,423/yr) supports up to $3,286 a month in rent. State College's current median rent is $1,888/mo, which leaves a $1,398/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $63 an hour, a pharmacist in Pennsylvania works roughly 29.9 hours a month to cover State College's median rent of $1,888.

Where is rent cheaper than State College for a pharmacist?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Wyncote ($1,887/mo), Whitehall ($1,887/mo), North Wales ($1,886/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 State College, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.