Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Tacoma, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.1% of gross income.

Tacoma rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Tacoma median rent
$1,749/mo
Pharmacist salary (Washington)
$148,680/yr
Rent as % of income
14.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $12,390, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,717/mo in rent. Tacoma's median rent of $1,749 leaves roughly $1,968/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 24.5 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Tacoma, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

La Center, WA
$1,748/mo (14.1% of income)
Wenatchee, WA
$1,747/mo (14.1% of income)
Vancouver, WA
$1,747/mo (14.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tacoma

View full rent data for Tacoma, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Tacoma, WA?

Median rent in Tacoma is $1,749 a month. A typical pharmacist in Washington earns about $148,680 a year, which makes that rent 14.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Tacoma?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Washington (~$148,680/yr) supports up to $3,717 a month in rent. Tacoma's current median rent is $1,749/mo, which leaves a $1,968/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $71 an hour, a pharmacist in Washington works roughly 24.5 hours a month to cover Tacoma's median rent of $1,749.

Where is rent cheaper than Tacoma for a pharmacist?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include La Center ($1,748/mo), Wenatchee ($1,747/mo), Vancouver ($1,747/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 Tacoma, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.