Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Albany, OR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.2% of gross income.

Albany rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Albany median rent
$1,774/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Oregon)
$38,553/yr
Rent as % of income
55.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,213, and the 30% rule supports up to $964/mo in rent. Albany's median rent of $1,774 exceeds that threshold by $810/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 95.7 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Albany, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Wilsonville, OR
$1,773/mo (55.2% of income)
Rockcreek, OR
$1,772/mo (55.2% of income)
Happy Valley, OR
$1,772/mo (55.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albany

View full rent data for Albany, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Albany, OR?

Median rent in Albany is $1,774 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Oregon earns about $38,553 a year, which makes that rent 55.2% 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 Albany?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Oregon (~$38,553/yr) supports up to $964 a month in rent. Albany's current median rent is $1,774/mo, which is $810/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a retail salesperson in Oregon works roughly 95.7 hours a month to cover Albany's median rent of $1,774.

Where is rent cheaper than Albany for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Wilsonville ($1,773/mo), Rockcreek ($1,772/mo), Happy Valley ($1,772/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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