Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Richmond, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

Richmond rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Richmond median rent
$1,666/mo
Plumber salary (Virginia)
$68,442/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,711/mo in rent. Richmond's median rent of $1,666 leaves roughly $45/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 50.6 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Norfolk, VA
$1,665/mo (29.2% of income)
Winchester, VA
$1,664/mo (29.2% of income)
Bellwood, VA
$1,663/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richmond

View full rent data for Richmond, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Richmond, VA?

Median rent in Richmond is $1,666 a month. A typical plumber in Virginia earns about $68,442 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Richmond?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Virginia (~$68,442/yr) supports up to $1,711 a month in rent. Richmond's current median rent is $1,666/mo, which leaves a $45/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a plumber in Virginia works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $1,666.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a plumber?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Norfolk ($1,665/mo), Winchester ($1,664/mo), Bellwood ($1,663/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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