Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Springfield, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.1% of gross income.

Springfield rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Springfield median rent
$1,176/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
21.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $1,176 leaves roughly $496/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 36.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Pontoon Beach, IL
$1,175/mo (21.1% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,175/mo (21.1% of income)
Collinsville, IL
$1,170/mo (21% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Springfield, IL?

Median rent in Springfield is $1,176 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 21.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,176/mo, which leaves a $496/mo buffer.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Springfield?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 36.6 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,176.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a real estate agent?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Pontoon Beach ($1,175/mo), Shiloh ($1,175/mo), Collinsville ($1,170/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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