Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Paragould, AR?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.
Paragould rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
About rent and an auto mechanic salary
Auto mechanic pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Master techs and dealership flat-rate techs often earn well above the BLS figure, which expands affordability further. At the national-average mechanic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,282 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Paragould, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Paragould
View full rent data for Paragould, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Paragould, AR?
Median rent in Paragould is $1,074 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Arkansas earns about $42,554 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Paragould?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Arkansas (~$42,554/yr) supports up to $1,064 a month in rent. Paragould's current median rent is $1,074/mo, which is $10/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Paragould?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, an auto mechanic in Arkansas works roughly 52.5 hours a month to cover Paragould's median rent of $1,074.
Where is rent cheaper than Paragould for an auto mechanic?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,073/mo), Fayetteville ($1,072/mo), Fort Smith ($1,070/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.