Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Watertown, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.2% of gross income.

Watertown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Watertown median rent
$3,124/mo
Electrician salary (Massachusetts)
$81,084/yr
Rent as % of income
46.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,757, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,027/mo in rent. Watertown's median rent of $3,124 exceeds that threshold by $1,097/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 80.1 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Watertown, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Waltham, MA
$3,123/mo (46.2% of income)
Winchester, MA
$3,123/mo (46.2% of income)
Winchester, MA
$3,123/mo (46.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Watertown

View full rent data for Watertown, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Watertown, MA?

Median rent in Watertown is $3,124 a month. A typical electrician in Massachusetts earns about $81,084 a year, which makes that rent 46.2% 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 Watertown?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Massachusetts (~$81,084/yr) supports up to $2,027 a month in rent. Watertown's current median rent is $3,124/mo, which is $1,097/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, an electrician in Massachusetts works roughly 80.1 hours a month to cover Watertown's median rent of $3,124.

Where is rent cheaper than Watertown for an electrician?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Waltham ($3,123/mo), Winchester ($3,123/mo), Winchester ($3,123/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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