Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Elizabeth, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.

Elizabeth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Elizabeth median rent
$2,255/mo
Plumber salary (New Jersey)
$75,152/yr
Rent as % of income
36%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,263, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,879/mo in rent. Elizabeth's median rent of $2,255 exceeds that threshold by $376/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 62.4 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Sicklerville, NJ
$2,254/mo (36% of income)
Mt Laurel Township, NJ
$2,254/mo (36% of income)
Highland Park, NJ
$2,253/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elizabeth

View full rent data for Elizabeth, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Elizabeth, NJ?

Median rent in Elizabeth is $2,255 a month. A typical plumber in New Jersey earns about $75,152 a year, which makes that rent 36% 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 Elizabeth?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in New Jersey (~$75,152/yr) supports up to $1,879 a month in rent. Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,255/mo, which is $376/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a plumber in New Jersey works roughly 62.4 hours a month to cover Elizabeth's median rent of $2,255.

Where is rent cheaper than Elizabeth for a plumber?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Sicklerville ($2,254/mo), Mt Laurel Township ($2,254/mo), Highland Park ($2,253/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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