Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 12.3% of gross income.
Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Charleston, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:
Compare with full rent data for Charleston
View full rent data for Charleston, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can an electrician afford rent in Charleston, IL?
Median rent in Charleston is $730 a month. A typical electrician in Illinois earns about $71,298 a year, which makes that rent 12.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can an electrician afford in Charleston?
Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Illinois (~$71,298/yr) supports up to $1,782 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $730/mo, which leaves a $1,052/mo buffer.
How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Charleston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an electrician in Illinois works roughly 21.3 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $730.
Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for an electrician?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Belleville ($724/mo), Carbondale ($679/mo), Belleville ($671/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.