Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Suffolk, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.9% of gross income.

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

Suffolk median rent
$1,993/mo
Plumber salary (Virginia)
$68,442/yr
Rent as % of income
34.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,711/mo in rent. Suffolk's median rent of $1,993 exceeds that threshold by $282/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 60.6 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 Suffolk, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Blacksburg, VA
$1,987/mo (34.8% of income)
Charlottesville, VA
$1,986/mo (34.8% of income)
Stephens City, VA
$1,985/mo (34.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Suffolk

View full rent data for Suffolk, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Suffolk, VA?

Median rent in Suffolk is $1,993 a month. A typical plumber in Virginia earns about $68,442 a year, which makes that rent 34.9% 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 Suffolk?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Virginia (~$68,442/yr) supports up to $1,711 a month in rent. Suffolk's current median rent is $1,993/mo, which is $282/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a plumber in Virginia works roughly 60.6 hours a month to cover Suffolk's median rent of $1,993.

Where is rent cheaper than Suffolk for a plumber?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Blacksburg ($1,987/mo), Charlottesville ($1,986/mo), Stephens City ($1,985/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 Suffolk, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.