Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Chico, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.9% of gross income.

Chico rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Chico median rent
$1,577/mo
Plumber salary (California)
$79,178/yr
Rent as % of income
23.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,598, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,979/mo in rent. Chico's median rent of $1,577 leaves roughly $402/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 41.4 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 California cities have lower median rent than Chico, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Moreno Valley, CA
$1,576/mo (23.9% of income)
Hawthorne, CA
$1,576/mo (23.9% of income)
Arcata, CA
$1,576/mo (23.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chico

View full rent data for Chico, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Chico, CA?

Median rent in Chico is $1,577 a month. A typical plumber in California earns about $79,178 a year, which makes that rent 23.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Chico?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in California (~$79,178/yr) supports up to $1,979 a month in rent. Chico's current median rent is $1,577/mo, which leaves a $402/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, a plumber in California works roughly 41.4 hours a month to cover Chico's median rent of $1,577.

Where is rent cheaper than Chico for a plumber?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Moreno Valley ($1,576/mo), Hawthorne ($1,576/mo), Arcata ($1,576/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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