Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Cambridge, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.9% of gross income.

Cambridge rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Cambridge median rent
$3,559/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
54.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Cambridge's median rent of $3,559 exceeds that threshold by $1,613/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 95.1 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Cambridge, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Newton, MA
$3,545/mo (54.7% of income)
Brookline, MA
$3,541/mo (54.6% of income)
Newton, MA
$3,528/mo (54.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cambridge

View full rent data for Cambridge, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Cambridge, MA?

Median rent in Cambridge is $3,559 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 54.9% 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 Cambridge?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Cambridge's current median rent is $3,559/mo, which is $1,613/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 95.1 hours a month to cover Cambridge's median rent of $3,559.

Where is rent cheaper than Cambridge for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Newton ($3,545/mo), Brookline ($3,541/mo), Newton ($3,528/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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