Can An Electrician Afford Rent in South Portland, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.8% of gross income.

South Portland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

South Portland median rent
$2,533/mo
Electrician salary (Maine)
$65,007/yr
Rent as % of income
46.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,417, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,625/mo in rent. South Portland's median rent of $2,533 exceeds that threshold by $908/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 81 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than South Portland, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Freeport, ME
$2,532/mo (46.7% of income)
Yarmouth, ME
$2,518/mo (46.5% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,472/mo (45.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Portland

View full rent data for South Portland, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in South Portland, ME?

Median rent in South Portland is $2,533 a month. A typical electrician in Maine earns about $65,007 a year, which makes that rent 46.8% 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 South Portland?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Maine (~$65,007/yr) supports up to $1,625 a month in rent. South Portland's current median rent is $2,533/mo, which is $908/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, an electrician in Maine works roughly 81 hours a month to cover South Portland's median rent of $2,533.

Where is rent cheaper than South Portland for an electrician?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Freeport ($2,532/mo), Yarmouth ($2,518/mo), Kittery ($2,472/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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