Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Decatur, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.2% of gross income.

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

Decatur median rent
$1,019/mo
Electrician salary (Illinois)
$71,298/yr
Rent as % of income
17.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,942, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,782/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,019 leaves roughly $763/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 29.7 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 Decatur, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Waukegan, IL
$1,018/mo (17.1% of income)
Dixon, IL
$1,018/mo (17.1% of income)
Wood River, IL
$1,017/mo (17.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Decatur, IL?

Median rent in Decatur is $1,019 a month. A typical electrician in Illinois earns about $71,298 a year, which makes that rent 17.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Illinois (~$71,298/yr) supports up to $1,782 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which leaves a $763/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an electrician in Illinois works roughly 29.7 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,019.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for an electrician?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Waukegan ($1,018/mo), Dixon ($1,018/mo), Wood River ($1,017/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 Decatur, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.