Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Joplin, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.1% of gross income.

Joplin rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Joplin median rent
$1,306/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Missouri)
$91,733/yr
Rent as % of income
17.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,644, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,293/mo in rent. Joplin's median rent of $1,306 leaves roughly $987/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 29.6 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Joplin, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Saint Louis, MO
$1,304/mo (17.1% of income)
Hazelwood, MO
$1,303/mo (17% of income)
Hazelwood, MO
$1,302/mo (17% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Joplin

View full rent data for Joplin, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Joplin, MO?

Median rent in Joplin is $1,306 a month. A typical physical therapist in Missouri earns about $91,733 a year, which makes that rent 17.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Joplin?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Missouri (~$91,733/yr) supports up to $2,293 a month in rent. Joplin's current median rent is $1,306/mo, which leaves a $987/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a physical therapist in Missouri works roughly 29.6 hours a month to cover Joplin's median rent of $1,306.

Where is rent cheaper than Joplin for a physical therapist?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Saint Louis ($1,304/mo), Hazelwood ($1,303/mo), Hazelwood ($1,302/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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