Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Pacific, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.2% of gross income.

Pacific rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Pacific median rent
$1,926/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Washington)
$57,422/yr
Rent as % of income
40.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,785, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Pacific's median rent of $1,926 exceeds that threshold by $490/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 69.8 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Pacific, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Shoreline, WA
$1,925/mo (40.2% of income)
Olympia, WA
$1,925/mo (40.2% of income)
Washougal, WA
$1,925/mo (40.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pacific

View full rent data for Pacific, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Pacific, WA?

Median rent in Pacific is $1,926 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Washington earns about $57,422 a year, which makes that rent 40.2% 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 Pacific?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Washington (~$57,422/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Pacific's current median rent is $1,926/mo, which is $490/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, an auto mechanic in Washington works roughly 69.8 hours a month to cover Pacific's median rent of $1,926.

Where is rent cheaper than Pacific for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Shoreline ($1,925/mo), Olympia ($1,925/mo), Washougal ($1,925/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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