Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Oak Ridge, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.9% of gross income.

Oak Ridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Oak Ridge median rent
$1,673/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Tennessee)
$91,733/yr
Rent as % of income
21.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $7,644, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,293/mo in rent. Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673 leaves roughly $620/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 37.9 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Oak Ridge, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Dickson, TN
$1,672/mo (21.9% of income)
Hixson, TN
$1,672/mo (21.9% of income)
Gallatin, TN
$1,670/mo (21.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oak Ridge

View full rent data for Oak Ridge, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Oak Ridge, TN?

Median rent in Oak Ridge is $1,673 a month. A typical physical therapist in Tennessee earns about $91,733 a year, which makes that rent 21.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Oak Ridge?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Tennessee (~$91,733/yr) supports up to $2,293 a month in rent. Oak Ridge's current median rent is $1,673/mo, which leaves a $620/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $44 an hour, a physical therapist in Tennessee works roughly 37.9 hours a month to cover Oak Ridge's median rent of $1,673.

Where is rent cheaper than Oak Ridge for a physical therapist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Dickson ($1,672/mo), Hixson ($1,672/mo), Gallatin ($1,670/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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