Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Dover, DE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.2% of gross income.

Dover rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Dover median rent
$1,619/mo
Electrician salary (Delaware)
$71,298/yr
Rent as % of income
27.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,942, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,782/mo in rent. Dover's median rent of $1,619 leaves roughly $163/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 47.2 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Dover, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Claymont, DE
$1,616/mo (27.2% of income)
Claymont, DE
$1,613/mo (27.1% of income)
Claymont, DE
$1,611/mo (27.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dover

View full rent data for Dover, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Dover, DE?

Median rent in Dover is $1,619 a month. A typical electrician in Delaware earns about $71,298 a year, which makes that rent 27.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Dover?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Delaware (~$71,298/yr) supports up to $1,782 a month in rent. Dover's current median rent is $1,619/mo, which leaves a $163/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an electrician in Delaware works roughly 47.2 hours a month to cover Dover's median rent of $1,619.

Where is rent cheaper than Dover for an electrician?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Claymont ($1,616/mo), Claymont ($1,613/mo), Claymont ($1,611/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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