Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Johnstown, PA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.
Johnstown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).
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 Johnstown, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:
Compare with full rent data for Johnstown
View full rent data for Johnstown, PA →Frequently asked questions
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Johnstown, PA?
Median rent in Johnstown is $864 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Pennsylvania earns about $36,699 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Johnstown?
Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,699/yr) supports up to $917 a month in rent. Johnstown's current median rent is $864/mo, which leaves a $53/mo buffer.
How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Johnstown?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Pennsylvania works roughly 49 hours a month to cover Johnstown's median rent of $864.
Where is rent cheaper than Johnstown for a retail salesperson?
Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Beaver Falls ($862/mo), Rochester ($857/mo), Indiana ($857/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.