Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Mercer Island, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.4% of gross income.

Mercer Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Mercer Island median rent
$2,654/mo
Plumber salary (Washington)
$75,152/yr
Rent as % of income
42.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,263, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,879/mo in rent. Mercer Island's median rent of $2,654 exceeds that threshold by $775/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 73.5 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 Mercer Island, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Spanaway, WA
$2,653/mo (42.4% of income)
Bonney Lake, WA
$2,653/mo (42.4% of income)
Bonney Lake, WA
$2,652/mo (42.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mercer Island

View full rent data for Mercer Island, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Mercer Island, WA?

Median rent in Mercer Island is $2,654 a month. A typical plumber in Washington earns about $75,152 a year, which makes that rent 42.4% 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 Mercer Island?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in Washington (~$75,152/yr) supports up to $1,879 a month in rent. Mercer Island's current median rent is $2,654/mo, which is $775/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a plumber in Washington works roughly 73.5 hours a month to cover Mercer Island's median rent of $2,654.

Where is rent cheaper than Mercer Island for a plumber?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Spanaway ($2,653/mo), Bonney Lake ($2,653/mo), Bonney Lake ($2,652/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 Mercer Island, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.