Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Swampscott, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 71.3% of gross income.

Swampscott rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Swampscott median rent
$3,536/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Massachusetts)
$59,473/yr
Rent as % of income
71.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,956, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,487/mo in rent. Swampscott's median rent of $3,536 exceeds that threshold by $2,049/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 123.7 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Swampscott, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Needham, MA
$3,535/mo (71.3% of income)
Medford, MA
$3,529/mo (71.2% of income)
Medford, MA
$3,528/mo (71.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Swampscott

View full rent data for Swampscott, MA →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Swampscott, MA?

Median rent in Swampscott is $3,536 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Massachusetts earns about $59,473 a year, which makes that rent 71.3% 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 Swampscott?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Massachusetts (~$59,473/yr) supports up to $1,487 a month in rent. Swampscott's current median rent is $3,536/mo, which is $2,049/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, an auto mechanic in Massachusetts works roughly 123.7 hours a month to cover Swampscott's median rent of $3,536.

Where is rent cheaper than Swampscott for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Needham ($3,535/mo), Medford ($3,529/mo), Medford ($3,528/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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