Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Memphis, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.9% of gross income.

Memphis rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Memphis median rent
$1,280/mo
Plumber salary (Tennessee)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
24.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Memphis's median rent of $1,280 leaves roughly $263/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 43.1 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Memphis, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Gallatin, TN
$1,279/mo (24.9% of income)
Smyrna, TN
$1,274/mo (24.8% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,274/mo (24.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Memphis

View full rent data for Memphis, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Memphis, TN?

Median rent in Memphis is $1,280 a month. A typical plumber in Tennessee earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 24.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Memphis?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Tennessee (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Memphis's current median rent is $1,280/mo, which leaves a $263/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Tennessee works roughly 43.1 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,280.

Where is rent cheaper than Memphis for a plumber?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Gallatin ($1,279/mo), Smyrna ($1,274/mo), Jonesborough ($1,274/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 Memphis, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.