Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Fort Collins, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.4% of gross income.

Fort Collins rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Fort Collins median rent
$1,959/mo
Plumber salary (Colorado)
$70,455/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,871, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,761/mo in rent. Fort Collins's median rent of $1,959 exceeds that threshold by $198/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 57.8 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 Fort Collins, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Brighton, CO
$1,957/mo (33.3% of income)
Brighton, CO
$1,957/mo (33.3% of income)
Firestone, CO
$1,957/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Collins

View full rent data for Fort Collins, CO →

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?

Median rent in Fort Collins is $1,959 a month. A typical plumber in Colorado earns about $70,455 a year, which makes that rent 33.4% 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 Fort Collins?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Colorado (~$70,455/yr) supports up to $1,761 a month in rent. Fort Collins's current median rent is $1,959/mo, which is $198/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a plumber in Colorado works roughly 57.8 hours a month to cover Fort Collins's median rent of $1,959.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Collins for a plumber?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Brighton ($1,957/mo), Brighton ($1,957/mo), Firestone ($1,957/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 Fort Collins, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.