Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Charleston, SC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.6% of gross income.

Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Charleston median rent
$2,245/mo
Plumber salary (South Carolina)
$59,048/yr
Rent as % of income
45.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,921, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,476/mo in rent. Charleston's median rent of $2,245 exceeds that threshold by $769/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 79.1 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Moncks Corner, SC
$2,244/mo (45.6% of income)
Bluffton, SC
$2,233/mo (45.4% of income)
Pawleys Island, SC
$2,225/mo (45.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charleston

View full rent data for Charleston, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Charleston, SC?

Median rent in Charleston is $2,245 a month. A typical plumber in South Carolina earns about $59,048 a year, which makes that rent 45.6% 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 Charleston?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in South Carolina (~$59,048/yr) supports up to $1,476 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $2,245/mo, which is $769/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a plumber in South Carolina works roughly 79.1 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $2,245.

Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a plumber?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Moncks Corner ($2,244/mo), Bluffton ($2,233/mo), Pawleys Island ($2,225/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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