Can An Electrician Afford Rent in South Pasadena, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.

South Pasadena rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

South Pasadena median rent
$2,565/mo
Electrician salary (California)
$82,482/yr
Rent as % of income
37.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,874, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,062/mo in rent. South Pasadena's median rent of $2,565 exceeds that threshold by $503/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 64.7 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 California cities have lower median rent than South Pasadena, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Salinas, CA
$2,564/mo (37.3% of income)
Pleasant Hill, CA
$2,564/mo (37.3% of income)
Jurupa Valley, CA
$2,564/mo (37.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Pasadena

View full rent data for South Pasadena, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in South Pasadena, CA?

Median rent in South Pasadena is $2,565 a month. A typical electrician in California earns about $82,482 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% 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 South Pasadena?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in California (~$82,482/yr) supports up to $2,062 a month in rent. South Pasadena's current median rent is $2,565/mo, which is $503/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in South Pasadena?

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, an electrician in California works roughly 64.7 hours a month to cover South Pasadena's median rent of $2,565.

Where is rent cheaper than South Pasadena for an electrician?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Salinas ($2,564/mo), Pleasant Hill ($2,564/mo), Jurupa Valley ($2,564/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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