Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Cookeville, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29% of gross income.

Cookeville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Cookeville median rent
$1,491/mo
Plumber salary (Tennessee)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
29%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Cookeville's median rent of $1,491 leaves roughly $52/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 50.2 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Cookeville, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Johnson City, TN
$1,488/mo (28.9% of income)
Chattanooga, TN
$1,487/mo (28.9% of income)
Johnson City, TN
$1,485/mo (28.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cookeville

View full rent data for Cookeville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Cookeville, TN?

Median rent in Cookeville is $1,491 a month. A typical plumber in Tennessee earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 29% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Cookeville?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Tennessee (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Cookeville's current median rent is $1,491/mo, which leaves a $52/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Tennessee works roughly 50.2 hours a month to cover Cookeville's median rent of $1,491.

Where is rent cheaper than Cookeville for a plumber?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Johnson City ($1,488/mo), Chattanooga ($1,487/mo), Johnson City ($1,485/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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