Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Oak Ridge, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.4% of gross income.

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

Oak Ridge median rent
$1,673/mo
Pharmacist salary (Tennessee)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
16.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673 leaves roughly $1,380/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 28.5 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 Oak Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Dickson, TN
$1,672/mo (16.4% of income)
Hixson, TN
$1,672/mo (16.4% of income)
Gallatin, TN
$1,670/mo (16.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oak Ridge

View full rent data for Oak Ridge, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Oak Ridge, TN?

Median rent in Oak Ridge is $1,673 a month. A typical pharmacist in Tennessee earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 16.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Oak Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Tennessee (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Oak Ridge's current median rent is $1,673/mo, which leaves a $1,380/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Tennessee works roughly 28.5 hours a month to cover Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673.

Where is rent cheaper than Oak Ridge for a pharmacist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dickson ($1,672/mo), Hixson ($1,672/mo), Gallatin ($1,670/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 Oak Ridge, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.