Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Birmingham, AL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Birmingham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Birmingham median rent
$1,359/mo
Plumber salary (Alabama)
$57,706/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,809, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Birmingham's median rent of $1,359 leaves roughly $84/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 49 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a plumber salary

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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Birmingham, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Athens, AL
$1,358/mo (28.2% of income)
Athens, AL
$1,358/mo (28.2% of income)
Millbrook, AL
$1,358/mo (28.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Birmingham

View full rent data for Birmingham, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Birmingham, AL?

Median rent in Birmingham is $1,359 a month. A typical plumber in Alabama earns about $57,706 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 plumber afford in Birmingham?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Alabama (~$57,706/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Birmingham's current median rent is $1,359/mo, which leaves a $84/mo buffer.

How many hours does a plumber work to cover rent in Birmingham?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a plumber in Alabama works roughly 49 hours a month to cover Birmingham's median rent of $1,359.

Where is rent cheaper than Birmingham for a plumber?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,358/mo), Athens ($1,358/mo), Millbrook ($1,358/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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