Rent Affordability for Plumbers in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$67,100/yr
Gross monthly
$5,592
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$1,678/mo
Plumber pay sits comfortably above the US median household income and covers affordable rent in most US metros. At the national-average plumber salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local plumber-pay estimates so renters can see where the math works.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest plumber pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $83,875/yr | $2,097/mo | View cities › |
| California | $79,178/yr | $1,979/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $77,836/yr | $1,946/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $76,494/yr | $1,912/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $75,152/yr | $1,879/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $75,152/yr | $1,879/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $75,152/yr | $1,879/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $73,810/yr | $1,845/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $72,468/yr | $1,812/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $72,468/yr | $1,812/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest plumber pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $54,351/yr | $1,359/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $55,693/yr | $1,392/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $57,035/yr | $1,426/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $57,706/yr | $1,443/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $58,377/yr | $1,459/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $59,048/yr | $1,476/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $59,048/yr | $1,476/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $59,048/yr | $1,476/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $59,048/yr | $1,476/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $59,048/yr | $1,476/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIowaMissouriTennesseeIndianaKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can a plumber afford rent in a high-cost US city?
In most high-cost metros, plumber pay is materially above the national mean, which keeps affordability achievable even where rent is elevated. The per-city pages show local figures.
What rent can a plumber afford?
At the BLS national mean of $67,100, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent.