Can A Plumber Afford Rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.1% of gross income.

South Padre Island rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

South Padre Island median rent
$4,212/mo
Plumber salary (Texas)
$66,429/yr
Rent as % of income
76.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,536, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,661/mo in rent. South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212 exceeds that threshold by $2,551/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 131.9 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than South Padre Island, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

University Park, TX
$4,163/mo (75.2% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,358/mo (60.7% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,274/mo (59.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Padre Island

View full rent data for South Padre Island, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Median rent in South Padre Island is $4,212 a month. A typical plumber in Texas earns about $66,429 a year, which makes that rent 76.1% 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 South Padre Island?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Texas (~$66,429/yr) supports up to $1,661 a month in rent. South Padre Island's current median rent is $4,212/mo, which is $2,551/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a plumber work to cover rent in South Padre Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a plumber in Texas works roughly 131.9 hours a month to cover South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212.

Where is rent cheaper than South Padre Island for a plumber?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include University Park ($4,163/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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