Can An Auto Mechanic Afford Rent in Grafton, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.9% of gross income.

Grafton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Grafton median rent
$1,783/mo
Auto Mechanic salary (Wisconsin)
$48,707/yr
Rent as % of income
43.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,059, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,218/mo in rent. Grafton's median rent of $1,783 exceeds that threshold by $565/mo, putting an auto mechanic salary into the rent-burdened range here. An auto mechanic works roughly 76.1 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Grafton, which improves the affordability math on an auto mechanic salary:

Oak Creek, WI
$1,782/mo (43.9% of income)
Fitchburg, WI
$1,780/mo (43.9% of income)
Oak Creek, WI
$1,779/mo (43.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grafton

View full rent data for Grafton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can an auto mechanic afford rent in Grafton, WI?

Median rent in Grafton is $1,783 a month. A typical auto mechanic in Wisconsin earns about $48,707 a year, which makes that rent 43.9% 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 Grafton?

Using the 30% rule, an auto mechanic salary in Wisconsin (~$48,707/yr) supports up to $1,218 a month in rent. Grafton's current median rent is $1,783/mo, which is $565/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, an auto mechanic in Wisconsin works roughly 76.1 hours a month to cover Grafton's median rent of $1,783.

Where is rent cheaper than Grafton for an auto mechanic?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Oak Creek ($1,782/mo), Fitchburg ($1,780/mo), Oak Creek ($1,779/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an auto mechanic salary.

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