Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Knoxville, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17% of gross income.

Knoxville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Knoxville median rent
$1,735/mo
Pharmacist salary (Tennessee)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
17%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Knoxville's median rent of $1,735 leaves roughly $1,318/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 29.5 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Knoxville, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Goodlettsville, TN
$1,733/mo (17% of income)
Alcoa, TN
$1,732/mo (17% of income)
Lenoir City, TN
$1,732/mo (17% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Knoxville

View full rent data for Knoxville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Knoxville, TN?

Median rent in Knoxville is $1,735 a month. A typical pharmacist in Tennessee earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 17% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Knoxville?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Tennessee (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Knoxville's current median rent is $1,735/mo, which leaves a $1,318/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Tennessee works roughly 29.5 hours a month to cover Knoxville's median rent of $1,735.

Where is rent cheaper than Knoxville for a pharmacist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Goodlettsville ($1,733/mo), Alcoa ($1,732/mo), Lenoir City ($1,732/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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