Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Waltham, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.9% of gross income.

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

Waltham median rent
$3,042/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
46.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Waltham's median rent of $3,042 exceeds that threshold by $1,096/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 81.3 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 Waltham, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Bedford, MA
$3,037/mo (46.8% of income)
Watertown, MA
$3,036/mo (46.8% of income)
Watertown, MA
$3,035/mo (46.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waltham

View full rent data for Waltham, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Waltham, MA?

Median rent in Waltham is $3,042 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 46.9% 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 Waltham?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Waltham's current median rent is $3,042/mo, which is $1,096/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 81.3 hours a month to cover Waltham's median rent of $3,042.

Where is rent cheaper than Waltham for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($3,037/mo), Watertown ($3,036/mo), Watertown ($3,035/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 Waltham, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.