Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Chatham, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30% of gross income.

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

Chatham median rent
$1,713/mo
Plumber salary (Illinois)
$68,442/yr
Rent as % of income
30%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,711/mo in rent. Chatham's median rent of $1,713 exceeds that threshold by $2/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 52.1 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Chatham, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Oak Lawn, IL
$1,711/mo (30% of income)
Calumet City, IL
$1,711/mo (30% of income)
La Grange Park, IL
$1,709/mo (30% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chatham

View full rent data for Chatham, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Chatham, IL?

Median rent in Chatham is $1,713 a month. A typical plumber in Illinois earns about $68,442 a year, which makes that rent 30% 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 Chatham?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Illinois (~$68,442/yr) supports up to $1,711 a month in rent. Chatham's current median rent is $1,713/mo, which is $2/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a plumber in Illinois works roughly 52.1 hours a month to cover Chatham's median rent of $1,713.

Where is rent cheaper than Chatham for a plumber?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Oak Lawn ($1,711/mo), Calumet City ($1,711/mo), La Grange Park ($1,709/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 Chatham, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.