Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Los Angeles, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.3% of gross income.
Los Angeles rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).
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 California cities have lower median rent than Los Angeles, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:
Compare with full rent data for Los Angeles
View full rent data for Los Angeles, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can an electrician afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
Median rent in Los Angeles is $2,773 a month. A typical electrician in California earns about $82,482 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 electrician afford in Los Angeles?
Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in California (~$82,482/yr) supports up to $2,062 a month in rent. Los Angeles's current median rent is $2,773/mo, which is $711/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Los Angeles?
At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, an electrician in California works roughly 69.9 hours a month to cover Los Angeles's median rent of $2,773.
Where is rent cheaper than Los Angeles for an electrician?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Sunnyvale ($2,772/mo), Imperial Beach ($2,772/mo), Rancho Cucamonga ($2,772/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.