Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Tempe, AZ?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Tempe rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Tempe median rent
$1,623/mo
Plumber salary (Arizona)
$65,087/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,424, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,627/mo in rent. Tempe's median rent of $1,623 leaves roughly $4/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 51.9 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Tempe, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

South Tucson, AZ
$1,601/mo (29.5% of income)
Sahuarita, AZ
$1,590/mo (29.3% of income)
Coolidge, AZ
$1,586/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tempe

View full rent data for Tempe, AZ →

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Tempe, AZ?

Median rent in Tempe is $1,623 a month. A typical plumber in Arizona earns about $65,087 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Tempe?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Arizona (~$65,087/yr) supports up to $1,627 a month in rent. Tempe's current median rent is $1,623/mo, which leaves a $4/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a plumber in Arizona works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover Tempe's median rent of $1,623.

Where is rent cheaper than Tempe for a plumber?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include South Tucson ($1,601/mo), Sahuarita ($1,590/mo), Coolidge ($1,586/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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