Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Nashville, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.5% of gross income.

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

Nashville median rent
$1,825/mo
Plumber salary (Tennessee)
$61,732/yr
Rent as % of income
35.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,543/mo in rent. Nashville's median rent of $1,825 exceeds that threshold by $282/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 61.5 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 Nashville, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Maryville, TN
$1,824/mo (35.5% of income)
Lenoir City, TN
$1,823/mo (35.4% of income)
Lenoir City, TN
$1,821/mo (35.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Nashville

View full rent data for Nashville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Nashville, TN?

Median rent in Nashville is $1,825 a month. A typical plumber in Tennessee earns about $61,732 a year, which makes that rent 35.5% 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 Nashville?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Tennessee (~$61,732/yr) supports up to $1,543 a month in rent. Nashville's current median rent is $1,825/mo, which is $282/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a plumber in Tennessee works roughly 61.5 hours a month to cover Nashville's median rent of $1,825.

Where is rent cheaper than Nashville for a plumber?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Maryville ($1,824/mo), Lenoir City ($1,823/mo), Lenoir City ($1,821/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 Nashville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.