Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Ottawa, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

Ottawa rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Ottawa median rent
$1,287/mo
Plumber salary (Illinois)
$68,442/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,711/mo in rent. Ottawa's median rent of $1,287 leaves roughly $424/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 39.1 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 Ottawa, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Berwyn, IL
$1,285/mo (22.5% of income)
Berwyn, IL
$1,284/mo (22.5% of income)
Normal, IL
$1,282/mo (22.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ottawa

View full rent data for Ottawa, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Ottawa, IL?

Median rent in Ottawa is $1,287 a month. A typical plumber in Illinois earns about $68,442 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Ottawa?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Illinois (~$68,442/yr) supports up to $1,711 a month in rent. Ottawa's current median rent is $1,287/mo, which leaves a $424/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a plumber in Illinois works roughly 39.1 hours a month to cover Ottawa's median rent of $1,287.

Where is rent cheaper than Ottawa for a plumber?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Berwyn ($1,285/mo), Berwyn ($1,284/mo), Normal ($1,282/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 Ottawa, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.