Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Iowa City, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.4% of gross income.

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

Iowa City median rent
$1,308/mo
Plumber salary (Iowa)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
25.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Iowa City's median rent of $1,308 leaves roughly $235/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 44.1 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 Iowa City, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

West Des Moines, IA
$1,304/mo (25.3% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,298/mo (25.2% of income)
Bettendorf, IA
$1,295/mo (25.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Iowa City

View full rent data for Iowa City, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Iowa City, IA?

Median rent in Iowa City is $1,308 a month. A typical plumber in Iowa earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 25.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Iowa City?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Iowa (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Iowa City's current median rent is $1,308/mo, which leaves a $235/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Iowa works roughly 44.1 hours a month to cover Iowa City's median rent of $1,308.

Where is rent cheaper than Iowa City for a plumber?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,304/mo), Urbandale ($1,298/mo), Bettendorf ($1,295/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 Iowa City, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.