Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Akron, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.5% of gross income.

Akron rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Akron median rent
$1,545/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Pennsylvania)
$36,699/yr
Rent as % of income
50.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,058, and the 30% rule supports up to $917/mo in rent. Akron's median rent of $1,545 exceeds that threshold by $628/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 87.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Akron, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Hershey, PA
$1,544/mo (50.5% of income)
Pittsburgh, PA
$1,543/mo (50.5% of income)
Carlisle, PA
$1,542/mo (50.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Akron

View full rent data for Akron, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Akron, PA?

Median rent in Akron is $1,545 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Pennsylvania earns about $36,699 a year, which makes that rent 50.5% 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 Akron?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,699/yr) supports up to $917 a month in rent. Akron's current median rent is $1,545/mo, which is $628/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Pennsylvania works roughly 87.6 hours a month to cover Akron's median rent of $1,545.

Where is rent cheaper than Akron for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Hershey ($1,544/mo), Pittsburgh ($1,543/mo), Carlisle ($1,542/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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