Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Milwaukee, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14% of gross income.

Milwaukee rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Milwaukee median rent
$1,469/mo
Pharmacist salary (Wisconsin)
$126,113/yr
Rent as % of income
14%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,509, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,153/mo in rent. Milwaukee's median rent of $1,469 leaves roughly $1,684/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 24.2 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Milwaukee, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Waukesha, WI
$1,467/mo (14% of income)
West Allis, WI
$1,454/mo (13.8% of income)
Waukesha, WI
$1,449/mo (13.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Milwaukee

View full rent data for Milwaukee, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?

Median rent in Milwaukee is $1,469 a month. A typical pharmacist in Wisconsin earns about $126,113 a year, which makes that rent 14% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Milwaukee?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Wisconsin (~$126,113/yr) supports up to $3,153 a month in rent. Milwaukee's current median rent is $1,469/mo, which leaves a $1,684/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $61 an hour, a pharmacist in Wisconsin works roughly 24.2 hours a month to cover Milwaukee's median rent of $1,469.

Where is rent cheaper than Milwaukee for a pharmacist?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Waukesha ($1,467/mo), West Allis ($1,454/mo), Waukesha ($1,449/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

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