Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Worcester, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.4% of gross income.

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

Worcester median rent
$2,164/mo
Plumber salary (Massachusetts)
$77,836/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,486, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,946/mo in rent. Worcester's median rent of $2,164 exceeds that threshold by $218/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 57.8 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 Worcester, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Brockton, MA
$2,163/mo (33.3% of income)
Attleboro, MA
$2,152/mo (33.2% of income)
Taunton, MA
$2,151/mo (33.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Worcester

View full rent data for Worcester, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Worcester, MA?

Median rent in Worcester is $2,164 a month. A typical plumber in Massachusetts earns about $77,836 a year, which makes that rent 33.4% 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 Worcester?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Massachusetts (~$77,836/yr) supports up to $1,946 a month in rent. Worcester's current median rent is $2,164/mo, which is $218/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a plumber in Massachusetts works roughly 57.8 hours a month to cover Worcester's median rent of $2,164.

Where is rent cheaper than Worcester for a plumber?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brockton ($2,163/mo), Attleboro ($2,152/mo), Taunton ($2,151/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 Worcester, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.