Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Johnson City, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Johnson City rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Johnson City median rent
$1,507/mo
Plumber salary (Tennessee)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Johnson City's median rent of $1,507 leaves roughly $36/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 50.8 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 Johnson City, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Millington, TN
$1,503/mo (29.2% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,502/mo (29.2% of income)
La Vergne, TN
$1,500/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Johnson City

View full rent data for Johnson City, TN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Johnson City, TN?

Median rent in Johnson City is $1,507 a month. A typical plumber in Tennessee earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Johnson City?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Tennessee (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Johnson City's current median rent is $1,507/mo, which leaves a $36/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Tennessee works roughly 50.8 hours a month to cover Johnson City's median rent of $1,507.

Where is rent cheaper than Johnson City for a plumber?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Millington ($1,503/mo), Morristown ($1,502/mo), La Vergne ($1,500/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 Johnson City, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.