Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Erie, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.7% of gross income.

Erie rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Erie median rent
$1,036/mo
Plumber salary (Pennsylvania)
$66,429/yr
Rent as % of income
18.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,536, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,661/mo in rent. Erie's median rent of $1,036 leaves roughly $625/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 32.4 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Erie, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

McKeesport, PA
$1,034/mo (18.7% of income)
New Castle, PA
$1,032/mo (18.6% of income)
Williamsport, PA
$1,032/mo (18.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Erie

View full rent data for Erie, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Erie, PA?

Median rent in Erie is $1,036 a month. A typical plumber in Pennsylvania earns about $66,429 a year, which makes that rent 18.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Erie?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Pennsylvania (~$66,429/yr) supports up to $1,661 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $1,036/mo, which leaves a $625/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a plumber in Pennsylvania works roughly 32.4 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $1,036.

Where is rent cheaper than Erie for a plumber?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include McKeesport ($1,034/mo), New Castle ($1,032/mo), Williamsport ($1,032/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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