Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Brookings, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15% of gross income.

Brookings rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Brookings median rent
$1,100/mo
Physical Therapist salary (South Dakota)
$87,745/yr
Rent as % of income
15%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,312, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,194/mo in rent. Brookings's median rent of $1,100 leaves roughly $1,094/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 26.1 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Brookings, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Aberdeen, SD
$1,049/mo (14.3% of income)
Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (14.3% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (14.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookings

View full rent data for Brookings, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Brookings, SD?

Median rent in Brookings is $1,100 a month. A typical physical therapist in South Dakota earns about $87,745 a year, which makes that rent 15% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Brookings?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in South Dakota (~$87,745/yr) supports up to $2,194 a month in rent. Brookings's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which leaves a $1,094/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $42 an hour, a physical therapist in South Dakota works roughly 26.1 hours a month to cover Brookings's median rent of $1,100.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookings for a physical therapist?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,049/mo), Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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