Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Odessa, TX?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.3% of gross income.
Odessa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Odessa, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:
Compare with full rent data for Odessa
View full rent data for Odessa, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Odessa, TX?
Median rent in Odessa is $1,537 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Texas earns about $36,699 a year, which makes that rent 50.3% 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 Odessa?
Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Texas (~$36,699/yr) supports up to $917 a month in rent. Odessa's current median rent is $1,537/mo, which is $620/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Odessa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Texas works roughly 87.1 hours a month to cover Odessa's median rent of $1,537.
Where is rent cheaper than Odessa for a retail salesperson?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Denton ($1,536/mo), Brownsville ($1,536/mo), Carrollton ($1,536/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.