Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Cambridge, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.5% of gross income.

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

Cambridge median rent
$3,598/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
55.5%
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 $3,598 exceeds that threshold by $1,652/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 96.1 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:

Somerville, MA
$3,589/mo (55.3% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,588/mo (55.3% of income)
Concord, MA
$3,570/mo (55% 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 $3,598 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 55.5% 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 $3,598/mo, which is $1,652/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 96.1 hours a month to cover Cambridge's median rent of $3,598.

Where is rent cheaper than Cambridge for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Somerville ($3,589/mo), Concord ($3,588/mo), Concord ($3,570/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.