Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.8% of gross income.

Arlington Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Arlington Heights median rent
$1,949/mo
Electrician salary (Illinois)
$71,298/yr
Rent as % of income
32.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,942, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,782/mo in rent. Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,949 exceeds that threshold by $167/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 56.9 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Arlington Heights, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Hoffman Estates, IL
$1,946/mo (32.8% of income)
Saint Charles, IL
$1,945/mo (32.7% of income)
Palatine, IL
$1,940/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington Heights

View full rent data for Arlington Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Median rent in Arlington Heights is $1,949 a month. A typical electrician in Illinois earns about $71,298 a year, which makes that rent 32.8% 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 Arlington Heights?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Illinois (~$71,298/yr) supports up to $1,782 a month in rent. Arlington Heights's current median rent is $1,949/mo, which is $167/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an electrician in Illinois works roughly 56.9 hours a month to cover Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,949.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington Heights for an electrician?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Hoffman Estates ($1,946/mo), Saint Charles ($1,945/mo), Palatine ($1,940/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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