Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Burien, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

Burien rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Burien median rent
$1,871/mo
Plumber salary (Washington)
$75,152/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,263, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,879/mo in rent. Burien's median rent of $1,871 leaves roughly $8/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 51.8 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Burien, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Kenmore, WA
$1,870/mo (29.9% of income)
Federal Way, WA
$1,870/mo (29.9% of income)
Leavenworth, WA
$1,870/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burien

View full rent data for Burien, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Burien, WA?

Median rent in Burien is $1,871 a month. A typical plumber in Washington earns about $75,152 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Burien?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Washington (~$75,152/yr) supports up to $1,879 a month in rent. Burien's current median rent is $1,871/mo, which leaves a $8/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a plumber in Washington works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Burien's median rent of $1,871.

Where is rent cheaper than Burien for a plumber?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Kenmore ($1,870/mo), Federal Way ($1,870/mo), Leavenworth ($1,870/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber salary.

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