Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Baltimore, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.

Baltimore rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Baltimore median rent
$1,799/mo
Plumber salary (Maryland)
$72,468/yr
Rent as % of income
29.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,039, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,812/mo in rent. Baltimore's median rent of $1,799 leaves roughly $13/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 51.6 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Baltimore, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Owings Mills, MD
$1,798/mo (29.8% of income)
Belcamp, MD
$1,797/mo (29.8% of income)
Abingdon, MD
$1,796/mo (29.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Baltimore

View full rent data for Baltimore, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Baltimore, MD?

Median rent in Baltimore is $1,799 a month. A typical plumber in Maryland earns about $72,468 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Baltimore?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Maryland (~$72,468/yr) supports up to $1,812 a month in rent. Baltimore's current median rent is $1,799/mo, which leaves a $13/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a plumber in Maryland works roughly 51.6 hours a month to cover Baltimore's median rent of $1,799.

Where is rent cheaper than Baltimore for a plumber?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Owings Mills ($1,798/mo), Belcamp ($1,797/mo), Abingdon ($1,796/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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