Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Kearney, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.4% of gross income.

Kearney rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Kearney median rent
$1,686/mo
Plumber salary (Nebraska)
$62,403/yr
Rent as % of income
32.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,200, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,560/mo in rent. Kearney's median rent of $1,686 exceeds that threshold by $126/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 56.2 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Kearney, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Papillion, NE
$1,674/mo (32.2% of income)
Papillion, NE
$1,672/mo (32.2% of income)
Papillion, NE
$1,670/mo (32.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kearney

View full rent data for Kearney, NE →

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Kearney, NE?

Median rent in Kearney is $1,686 a month. A typical plumber in Nebraska earns about $62,403 a year, which makes that rent 32.4% 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 Kearney?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Nebraska (~$62,403/yr) supports up to $1,560 a month in rent. Kearney's current median rent is $1,686/mo, which is $126/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Nebraska works roughly 56.2 hours a month to cover Kearney's median rent of $1,686.

Where is rent cheaper than Kearney for a plumber?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Papillion ($1,674/mo), Papillion ($1,672/mo), Papillion ($1,670/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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