Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Burien, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.1% of gross income.

Burien rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Burien median rent
$1,871/mo
Pharmacist salary (Washington)
$148,680/yr
Rent as % of income
15.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,390, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,717/mo in rent. Burien's median rent of $1,871 leaves roughly $1,846/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 26.2 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Burien, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Kenmore, WA
$1,870/mo (15.1% of income)
Federal Way, WA
$1,870/mo (15.1% of income)
Leavenworth, WA
$1,870/mo (15.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burien

View full rent data for Burien, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Burien, WA?

Median rent in Burien is $1,871 a month. A typical pharmacist in Washington earns about $148,680 a year, which makes that rent 15.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Burien?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Washington (~$148,680/yr) supports up to $3,717 a month in rent. Burien's current median rent is $1,871/mo, which leaves a $1,846/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $71 an hour, a pharmacist in Washington works roughly 26.2 hours a month to cover Burien's median rent of $1,871.

Where is rent cheaper than Burien for a pharmacist?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Kenmore ($1,870/mo), Federal Way ($1,870/mo), Leavenworth ($1,870/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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