Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Rochester, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.1% of gross income.

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

Rochester median rent
$944/mo
Plumber salary (Pennsylvania)
$66,429/yr
Rent as % of income
17.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,536, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,661/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $944 leaves roughly $717/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 29.6 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 Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Harrisburg, PA
$942/mo (17% of income)
Latrobe, PA
$942/mo (17% of income)
Washington, PA
$940/mo (17% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Rochester, PA?

Median rent in Rochester is $944 a month. A typical plumber in Pennsylvania earns about $66,429 a year, which makes that rent 17.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Pennsylvania (~$66,429/yr) supports up to $1,661 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $944/mo, which leaves a $717/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a plumber in Pennsylvania works roughly 29.6 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $944.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a plumber?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Harrisburg ($942/mo), Latrobe ($942/mo), Washington ($940/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 Rochester, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.