Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Raleigh, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

Raleigh rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Raleigh median rent
$1,579/mo
Electrician salary (North Carolina)
$65,706/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,476, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,643/mo in rent. Raleigh's median rent of $1,579 leaves roughly $64/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 50 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Raleigh, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Morrisville, NC
$1,578/mo (28.8% of income)
Morrisville, NC
$1,577/mo (28.8% of income)
Morrisville, NC
$1,577/mo (28.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Raleigh

View full rent data for Raleigh, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Raleigh, NC?

Median rent in Raleigh is $1,579 a month. A typical electrician in North Carolina earns about $65,706 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Raleigh?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in North Carolina (~$65,706/yr) supports up to $1,643 a month in rent. Raleigh's current median rent is $1,579/mo, which leaves a $64/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, an electrician in North Carolina works roughly 50 hours a month to cover Raleigh's median rent of $1,579.

Where is rent cheaper than Raleigh for an electrician?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Morrisville ($1,578/mo), Morrisville ($1,577/mo), Morrisville ($1,577/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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