Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.9% of gross income.
Des Moines rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can an electrician afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,121 a month. A typical electrician in Iowa earns about $64,308 a year, which makes that rent 20.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can an electrician afford in Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Iowa (~$64,308/yr) supports up to $1,608 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $487/mo buffer.
How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, an electrician in Iowa works roughly 36.3 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,121.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for an electrician?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($1,119/mo), Sioux City ($1,117/mo), Marion ($1,116/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.