Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Brookings, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 11.3% of gross income.

Brookings rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Brookings median rent
$1,100/mo
Pharmacist salary (South Dakota)
$116,820/yr
Rent as % of income
11.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,735, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,921/mo in rent. Brookings's median rent of $1,100 leaves roughly $1,821/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 19.6 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Brookings, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Aberdeen, SD
$1,049/mo (10.8% of income)
Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (10.7% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (10.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookings

View full rent data for Brookings, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Brookings, SD?

Median rent in Brookings is $1,100 a month. A typical pharmacist in South Dakota earns about $116,820 a year, which makes that rent 11.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Brookings?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in South Dakota (~$116,820/yr) supports up to $2,921 a month in rent. Brookings's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which leaves a $1,821/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $56 an hour, a pharmacist in South Dakota works roughly 19.6 hours a month to cover Brookings's median rent of $1,100.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookings for a pharmacist?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,049/mo), Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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