Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Burlington, VT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 66.1% of gross income.

Burlington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$2,738/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Vermont)
$49,732/yr
Rent as % of income
66.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,144, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,243/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $2,738 exceeds that threshold by $1,495/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 114.5 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 Vermont cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

South Burlington, VT
$2,573/mo (62.1% of income)
South Burlington, VT
$2,557/mo (61.7% of income)
South Burlington, VT
$2,550/mo (61.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, VT →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Burlington, VT?

Median rent in Burlington is $2,738 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Vermont earns about $49,732 a year, which makes that rent 66.1% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Vermont (~$49,732/yr) supports up to $1,243 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $2,738/mo, which is $1,495/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, an auto mechanic in Vermont works roughly 114.5 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $2,738.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include South Burlington ($2,573/mo), South Burlington ($2,557/mo), South Burlington ($2,550/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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