Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Winston-Salem, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.5% of gross income.

Winston-Salem rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Winston-Salem median rent
$1,525/mo
Physical Therapist salary (North Carolina)
$93,727/yr
Rent as % of income
19.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,343/mo in rent. Winston-Salem's median rent of $1,525 leaves roughly $818/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 33.8 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Winston-Salem, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Carrboro, NC
$1,524/mo (19.5% of income)
Gastonia, NC
$1,524/mo (19.5% of income)
Elizabeth City, NC
$1,524/mo (19.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Winston-Salem

View full rent data for Winston-Salem, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Winston-Salem, NC?

Median rent in Winston-Salem is $1,525 a month. A typical physical therapist in North Carolina earns about $93,727 a year, which makes that rent 19.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Winston-Salem?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in North Carolina (~$93,727/yr) supports up to $2,343 a month in rent. Winston-Salem's current median rent is $1,525/mo, which leaves a $818/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Winston-Salem?

At an hourly equivalent of about $45 an hour, a physical therapist in North Carolina works roughly 33.8 hours a month to cover Winston-Salem's median rent of $1,525.

Where is rent cheaper than Winston-Salem for a physical therapist?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Carrboro ($1,524/mo), Gastonia ($1,524/mo), Elizabeth City ($1,524/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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