Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Fort Smith, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.2% of gross income.

Fort Smith rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Fort Smith median rent
$1,071/mo
Electrician salary (Arkansas)
$58,017/yr
Rent as % of income
22.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,835, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,450/mo in rent. Fort Smith's median rent of $1,071 leaves roughly $379/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 38.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an electrician salary

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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Fort Smith, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

North Little Rock, AR
$1,069/mo (22.1% of income)
Jacksonville, AR
$1,069/mo (22.1% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$1,064/mo (22% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Smith

View full rent data for Fort Smith, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?

Median rent in Fort Smith is $1,071 a month. A typical electrician in Arkansas earns about $58,017 a year, which makes that rent 22.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Fort Smith?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Arkansas (~$58,017/yr) supports up to $1,450 a month in rent. Fort Smith's current median rent is $1,071/mo, which leaves a $379/mo buffer.

How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Fort Smith?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, an electrician in Arkansas works roughly 38.4 hours a month to cover Fort Smith's median rent of $1,071.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Smith for an electrician?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,069/mo), Jacksonville ($1,069/mo), North Little Rock ($1,064/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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