Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Richmond, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

Richmond median rent
$1,682/mo
Plumber salary (Virginia)
$68,442/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
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 $1,682 leaves roughly $29/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 51.1 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Winchester, VA
$1,681/mo (29.5% of income)
Christiansburg, VA
$1,680/mo (29.5% of income)
East Highland Park, VA
$1,680/mo (29.5% 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 $1,682 a month. A typical plumber in Virginia earns about $68,442 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% 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 $1,682/mo, which leaves a $29/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 51.1 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $1,682.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a plumber?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Winchester ($1,681/mo), Christiansburg ($1,680/mo), East Highland Park ($1,680/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.