Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Mercer Island, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

Mercer Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Mercer Island median rent
$2,654/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Washington)
$111,675/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $9,306, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,792/mo in rent. Mercer Island's median rent of $2,654 leaves roughly $138/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 49.4 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Mercer Island, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Spanaway, WA
$2,653/mo (28.5% of income)
Bonney Lake, WA
$2,653/mo (28.5% of income)
Bonney Lake, WA
$2,652/mo (28.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mercer Island

View full rent data for Mercer Island, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Mercer Island, WA?

Median rent in Mercer Island is $2,654 a month. A typical physical therapist in Washington earns about $111,675 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Mercer Island?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Washington (~$111,675/yr) supports up to $2,792 a month in rent. Mercer Island's current median rent is $2,654/mo, which leaves a $138/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $54 an hour, a physical therapist in Washington works roughly 49.4 hours a month to cover Mercer Island's median rent of $2,654.

Where is rent cheaper than Mercer Island for a physical therapist?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Spanaway ($2,653/mo), Bonney Lake ($2,653/mo), Bonney Lake ($2,652/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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