Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Melrose, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 61.2% of gross income.
Melrose rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Melrose, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:
Compare with full rent data for Melrose
View full rent data for Melrose, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Melrose, MA?
Median rent in Melrose is $3,031 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Massachusetts earns about $59,473 a year, which makes that rent 61.2% 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 Melrose?
Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Massachusetts (~$59,473/yr) supports up to $1,487 a month in rent. Melrose's current median rent is $3,031/mo, which is $1,544/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an auto mechanic work to cover rent in Melrose?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, an auto mechanic in Massachusetts works roughly 106 hours a month to cover Melrose's median rent of $3,031.
Where is rent cheaper than Melrose for an auto mechanic?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Sharon ($3,029/mo), Sharon ($3,028/mo), Burlington ($3,028/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.