Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Jackson, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.1% of gross income.

Jackson rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Jackson median rent
$1,228/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Mississippi)
$30,027/yr
Rent as % of income
49.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,502, and the 30% rule supports up to $751/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,228 exceeds that threshold by $477/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 85.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Pascagoula, MS
$1,222/mo (48.8% of income)
Meridian, MS
$1,217/mo (48.6% of income)
Pascagoula, MS
$1,211/mo (48.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, MS →

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Jackson, MS?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,228 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Mississippi earns about $30,027 a year, which makes that rent 49.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Mississippi (~$30,027/yr) supports up to $751 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,228/mo, which is $477/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Jackson?

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a retail salesperson in Mississippi works roughly 85.1 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,228.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Pascagoula ($1,222/mo), Meridian ($1,217/mo), Pascagoula ($1,211/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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