Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Birmingham, AL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19% of gross income.

Birmingham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Birmingham median rent
$1,359/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Alabama)
$85,751/yr
Rent as % of income
19%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,146, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,144/mo in rent. Birmingham's median rent of $1,359 leaves roughly $785/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 33 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Birmingham, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Athens, AL
$1,358/mo (19% of income)
Athens, AL
$1,358/mo (19% of income)
Millbrook, AL
$1,358/mo (19% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Birmingham

View full rent data for Birmingham, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Birmingham, AL?

Median rent in Birmingham is $1,359 a month. A typical physical therapist in Alabama earns about $85,751 a year, which makes that rent 19% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Birmingham?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Alabama (~$85,751/yr) supports up to $2,144 a month in rent. Birmingham's current median rent is $1,359/mo, which leaves a $785/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Birmingham?

At an hourly equivalent of about $41 an hour, a physical therapist in Alabama works roughly 33 hours a month to cover Birmingham's median rent of $1,359.

Where is rent cheaper than Birmingham for a physical therapist?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,358/mo), Athens ($1,358/mo), Millbrook ($1,358/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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