Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Burlington, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.
Burlington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Burlington
View full rent data for Burlington, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Burlington, IA?
Median rent in Burlington is $983 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Iowa earns about $47,168 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can an auto mechanic afford in Burlington?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Iowa (~$47,168/yr) supports up to $1,179 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $983/mo, which leaves a $196/mo buffer.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Burlington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Iowa works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $983.
Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for an auto mechanic?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Pella ($982/mo), Pella ($980/mo), Davenport ($965/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.