Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Fairfax, VA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.8% of gross income.
Fairfax rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).
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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Fairfax, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fairfax
View full rent data for Fairfax, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Fairfax, VA?
Median rent in Fairfax is $2,456 a month. A typical pharmacist in Virginia earns about $135,405 a year, which makes that rent 21.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Fairfax?
Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Virginia (~$135,405/yr) supports up to $3,385 a month in rent. Fairfax's current median rent is $2,456/mo, which leaves a $929/mo buffer.
How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Fairfax?
At an hourly equivalent of about $65 an hour, a pharmacist in Virginia works roughly 37.7 hours a month to cover Fairfax's median rent of $2,456.
Where is rent cheaper than Fairfax for a pharmacist?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Stafford ($2,455/mo), Stafford ($2,453/mo), Stafford ($2,452/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.