Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Essex, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.4% of gross income.

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

Essex median rent
$1,352/mo
Plumber salary (Maryland)
$72,468/yr
Rent as % of income
22.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,039, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,812/mo in rent. Essex's median rent of $1,352 leaves roughly $460/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 38.8 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Essex, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Hagerstown, MD
$1,348/mo (22.3% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,345/mo (22.3% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,344/mo (22.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Essex

View full rent data for Essex, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Essex, MD?

Median rent in Essex is $1,352 a month. A typical plumber in Maryland earns about $72,468 a year, which makes that rent 22.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Essex?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Maryland (~$72,468/yr) supports up to $1,812 a month in rent. Essex's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which leaves a $460/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a plumber in Maryland works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover Essex's median rent of $1,352.

Where is rent cheaper than Essex for a plumber?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hagerstown ($1,348/mo), Hagerstown ($1,345/mo), Hagerstown ($1,344/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 Essex, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.