Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Washougal, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.3% of gross income.

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

Washougal median rent
$1,930/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Washington)
$57,422/yr
Rent as % of income
40.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,785, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Washougal's median rent of $1,930 exceeds that threshold by $494/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 69.9 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Washougal, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA
$1,929/mo (40.3% of income)
Oak Harbor, WA
$1,928/mo (40.3% of income)
Des Moines, WA
$1,926/mo (40.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Washougal

View full rent data for Washougal, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Washougal, WA?

Median rent in Washougal is $1,930 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Washington earns about $57,422 a year, which makes that rent 40.3% 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 Washougal?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Washington (~$57,422/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Washougal's current median rent is $1,930/mo, which is $494/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, an auto mechanic in Washington works roughly 69.9 hours a month to cover Washougal's median rent of $1,930.

Where is rent cheaper than Washougal for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bryn Mawr-Skyway ($1,929/mo), Oak Harbor ($1,928/mo), Des Moines ($1,926/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 Washougal, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.