Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Denver, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32% of gross income.

Denver rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Denver median rent
$1,877/mo
Plumber salary (Colorado)
$70,455/yr
Rent as % of income
32%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,871, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,761/mo in rent. Denver's median rent of $1,877 exceeds that threshold by $116/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 55.4 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Denver, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Thornton, CO
$1,876/mo (32% of income)
Longmont, CO
$1,875/mo (31.9% of income)
Thornton, CO
$1,875/mo (31.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Denver

View full rent data for Denver, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Denver, CO?

Median rent in Denver is $1,877 a month. A typical plumber in Colorado earns about $70,455 a year, which makes that rent 32% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Denver?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Colorado (~$70,455/yr) supports up to $1,761 a month in rent. Denver's current median rent is $1,877/mo, which is $116/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a plumber in Colorado works roughly 55.4 hours a month to cover Denver's median rent of $1,877.

Where is rent cheaper than Denver for a plumber?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Thornton ($1,876/mo), Longmont ($1,875/mo), Thornton ($1,875/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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