Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Austin, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.9% of gross income.

Austin rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Austin median rent
$1,041/mo
Plumber salary (Minnesota)
$69,784/yr
Rent as % of income
17.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,815, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,745/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $1,041 leaves roughly $704/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 31 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Waseca, MN
$990/mo (17% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$963/mo (16.6% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$960/mo (16.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Austin, MN?

Median rent in Austin is $1,041 a month. A typical plumber in Minnesota earns about $69,784 a year, which makes that rent 17.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Minnesota (~$69,784/yr) supports up to $1,745 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,041/mo, which leaves a $704/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a plumber in Minnesota works roughly 31 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,041.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a plumber?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Waseca ($990/mo), Albert Lea ($963/mo), Albert Lea ($960/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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