Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Laurel, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.2% of gross income.

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

Laurel median rent
$1,882/mo
Plumber salary (Maryland)
$72,468/yr
Rent as % of income
31.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,039, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,812/mo in rent. Laurel's median rent of $1,882 exceeds that threshold by $70/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 54 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 Laurel, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Hanover, MD
$1,881/mo (31.1% of income)
Garrison, MD
$1,881/mo (31.1% of income)
Oxon Hill, MD
$1,881/mo (31.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laurel

View full rent data for Laurel, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Laurel, MD?

Median rent in Laurel is $1,882 a month. A typical plumber in Maryland earns about $72,468 a year, which makes that rent 31.2% 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 Laurel?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Maryland (~$72,468/yr) supports up to $1,812 a month in rent. Laurel's current median rent is $1,882/mo, which is $70/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a plumber in Maryland works roughly 54 hours a month to cover Laurel's median rent of $1,882.

Where is rent cheaper than Laurel for a plumber?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hanover ($1,881/mo), Garrison ($1,881/mo), Oxon Hill ($1,881/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 Laurel, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.