Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Fort Dodge, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.4% of gross income.

Fort Dodge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Fort Dodge median rent
$843/mo
Plumber salary (Iowa)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
16.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Fort Dodge's median rent of $843 leaves roughly $700/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 28.4 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Fort Dodge, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Waterloo, IA
$842/mo (16.4% of income)
Waterloo, IA
$840/mo (16.3% of income)
Ames, IA
$839/mo (16.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Dodge

View full rent data for Fort Dodge, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Fort Dodge, IA?

Median rent in Fort Dodge is $843 a month. A typical plumber in Iowa earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 16.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Fort Dodge?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Iowa (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Fort Dodge's current median rent is $843/mo, which leaves a $700/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Iowa works roughly 28.4 hours a month to cover Fort Dodge's median rent of $843.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Dodge for a plumber?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Waterloo ($842/mo), Waterloo ($840/mo), Ames ($839/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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