Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.8% of gross income.

Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Charleston median rent
$730/mo
Plumber salary (Illinois)
$68,442/yr
Rent as % of income
12.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,711/mo in rent. Charleston's median rent of $730 leaves roughly $981/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 22.2 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Belleville, IL
$724/mo (12.7% of income)
Carbondale, IL
$679/mo (11.9% of income)
Belleville, IL
$671/mo (11.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charleston

View full rent data for Charleston, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Charleston, IL?

Median rent in Charleston is $730 a month. A typical plumber in Illinois earns about $68,442 a year, which makes that rent 12.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Charleston?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Illinois (~$68,442/yr) supports up to $1,711 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $730/mo, which leaves a $981/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a plumber in Illinois works roughly 22.2 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $730.

Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a plumber?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Belleville ($724/mo), Carbondale ($679/mo), Belleville ($671/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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