Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Missoula, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.

Missoula rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Missoula median rent
$1,550/mo
Electrician salary (Montana)
$61,512/yr
Rent as % of income
30.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,126, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,538/mo in rent. Missoula's median rent of $1,550 exceeds that threshold by $12/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 52.4 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Missoula, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Helena, MT
$1,491/mo (29.1% of income)
Helena, MT
$1,490/mo (29.1% of income)
Helena, MT
$1,490/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Missoula

View full rent data for Missoula, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Missoula, MT?

Median rent in Missoula is $1,550 a month. A typical electrician in Montana earns about $61,512 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Missoula?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Montana (~$61,512/yr) supports up to $1,538 a month in rent. Missoula's current median rent is $1,550/mo, which is $12/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, an electrician in Montana works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Missoula's median rent of $1,550.

Where is rent cheaper than Missoula for an electrician?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Helena ($1,491/mo), Helena ($1,490/mo), Helena ($1,490/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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