Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Butte, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.7% of gross income.

Butte rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Butte median rent
$1,410/mo
Plumber salary (Montana)
$59,048/yr
Rent as % of income
28.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,921, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Butte's median rent of $1,410 leaves roughly $66/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 49.7 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Butte, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Livingston, MT
$1,406/mo (28.6% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,404/mo (28.5% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,396/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Butte

View full rent data for Butte, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Butte, MT?

Median rent in Butte is $1,410 a month. A typical plumber in Montana earns about $59,048 a year, which makes that rent 28.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Butte?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Montana (~$59,048/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Butte's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which leaves a $66/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a plumber in Montana works roughly 49.7 hours a month to cover Butte's median rent of $1,410.

Where is rent cheaper than Butte for a plumber?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Livingston ($1,406/mo), Billings ($1,404/mo), Great Falls ($1,396/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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