Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Iowa City, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.4% of gross income.

Iowa City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Iowa City median rent
$1,308/mo
Electrician salary (Iowa)
$64,308/yr
Rent as % of income
24.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,359, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,608/mo in rent. Iowa City's median rent of $1,308 leaves roughly $300/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 42.3 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Iowa City, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

West Des Moines, IA
$1,304/mo (24.3% of income)
Urbandale, IA
$1,298/mo (24.2% of income)
Bettendorf, IA
$1,295/mo (24.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Iowa City

View full rent data for Iowa City, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Iowa City, IA?

Median rent in Iowa City is $1,308 a month. A typical electrician in Iowa earns about $64,308 a year, which makes that rent 24.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Iowa City?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Iowa (~$64,308/yr) supports up to $1,608 a month in rent. Iowa City's current median rent is $1,308/mo, which leaves a $300/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, an electrician in Iowa works roughly 42.3 hours a month to cover Iowa City's median rent of $1,308.

Where is rent cheaper than Iowa City for an electrician?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,304/mo), Urbandale ($1,298/mo), Bettendorf ($1,295/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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