Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Salem, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.
Salem rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Salem, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Salem
View full rent data for Salem, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Salem, MA?
Median rent in Salem is $2,742 a month. A typical real estate agent in Massachusetts earns about $76,073 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Salem?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Massachusetts (~$76,073/yr) supports up to $1,902 a month in rent. Salem's current median rent is $2,742/mo, which is $840/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Salem?
At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in Massachusetts works roughly 75 hours a month to cover Salem's median rent of $2,742.
Where is rent cheaper than Salem for a real estate agent?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Westborough ($2,741/mo), Mansfield ($2,741/mo), Malden ($2,741/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.