Rent Affordability for Electricians in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
Electrician pay is competitive with many four-year-degree occupations and covers comfortable rent across most US metros. Union journeymen in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean once overtime and benefits are counted, which expands affordability further. At the national-average electrician salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,748 a month in rent. The per-city pages show where rent stays in range and where it begins to pinch.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest electrician pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $87,375/yr | $2,184/mo | View cities › |
| California | $82,482/yr | $2,062/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $81,084/yr | $2,027/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $79,686/yr | $1,992/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $78,288/yr | $1,957/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $78,288/yr | $1,957/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $78,288/yr | $1,957/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $76,890/yr | $1,922/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $75,492/yr | $1,887/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $75,492/yr | $1,887/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest electrician pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $56,619/yr | $1,415/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $58,017/yr | $1,450/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $59,415/yr | $1,485/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $60,114/yr | $1,503/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $60,813/yr | $1,520/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $61,512/yr | $1,538/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $61,512/yr | $1,538/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $61,512/yr | $1,538/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $61,512/yr | $1,538/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $61,512/yr | $1,538/mo | View cities › |
All states
Frequently asked questions
Can an electrician comfortably afford rent in a major US city?
In most metros, yes. Union pay in high-cost coastal cities is often higher than the BLS mean, which keeps affordability within reach even where rent is elevated.
What rent can an electrician afford?
At the BLS national mean of $69,900, the 30% rule supports about $1,748 a month in rent. Union and master-electrician pay can support materially higher rent.