Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Wilmington, DE?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 43% of gross income.
Wilmington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Wilmington, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Wilmington
View full rent data for Wilmington, DE →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Wilmington, DE?
Median rent in Wilmington is $1,872 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Delaware earns about $52,295 a year, which makes that rent 43% 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 Wilmington?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Delaware (~$52,295/yr) supports up to $1,307 a month in rent. Wilmington's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which is $565/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Wilmington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, an auto mechanic in Delaware works roughly 74.5 hours a month to cover Wilmington's median rent of $1,872.
Where is rent cheaper than Wilmington for an auto mechanic?
Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include New Castle ($1,747/mo), New Castle ($1,726/mo), Dover ($1,726/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.