Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Adel, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

Adel rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Adel median rent
$1,094/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Iowa)
$47,168/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,931, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,179/mo in rent. Adel's median rent of $1,094 leaves roughly $85/mo of headroom under that threshold. An auto mechanic works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Adel, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,087/mo (27.7% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$1,082/mo (27.5% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,078/mo (27.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Adel

View full rent data for Adel, IA →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Adel, IA?

Median rent in Adel is $1,094 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Iowa earns about $47,168 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Adel?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Iowa (~$47,168/yr) supports up to $1,179 a month in rent. Adel's current median rent is $1,094/mo, which leaves a $85/mo buffer.

How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Adel?

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Iowa works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover Adel's median rent of $1,094.

Where is rent cheaper than Adel for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($1,087/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,082/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,078/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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