Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Le Claire, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 73.8% of gross income.

Le Claire rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Le Claire median rent
$2,900/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Iowa)
$47,168/yr
Rent as % of income
73.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,931, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,179/mo in rent. Le Claire's median rent of $2,900 exceeds that threshold by $1,721/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 127.9 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 Le Claire, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Tiffin, IA
$2,027/mo (51.6% of income)
Tiffin, IA
$2,023/mo (51.5% of income)
Tiffin, IA
$1,926/mo (49% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Le Claire

View full rent data for Le Claire, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Le Claire, IA?

Median rent in Le Claire is $2,900 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Iowa earns about $47,168 a year, which makes that rent 73.8% 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 Le Claire?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Iowa (~$47,168/yr) supports up to $1,179 a month in rent. Le Claire's current median rent is $2,900/mo, which is $1,721/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Iowa works roughly 127.9 hours a month to cover Le Claire's median rent of $2,900.

Where is rent cheaper than Le Claire for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Tiffin ($2,027/mo), Tiffin ($2,023/mo), Tiffin ($1,926/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 Le Claire, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.