Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Chatham, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.2% of gross income.

Chatham rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Chatham median rent
$3,272/mo
Electrician salary (New Jersey)
$78,288/yr
Rent as % of income
50.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,524, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,957/mo in rent. Chatham's median rent of $3,272 exceeds that threshold by $1,315/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 86.9 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Chatham, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Highlands, NJ
$3,267/mo (50.1% of income)
Morganville, NJ
$3,262/mo (50% of income)
Teaneck, NJ
$3,260/mo (50% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chatham

View full rent data for Chatham, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Chatham, NJ?

Median rent in Chatham is $3,272 a month. A typical electrician in New Jersey earns about $78,288 a year, which makes that rent 50.2% 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 Chatham?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in New Jersey (~$78,288/yr) supports up to $1,957 a month in rent. Chatham's current median rent is $3,272/mo, which is $1,315/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $38 an hour, an electrician in New Jersey works roughly 86.9 hours a month to cover Chatham's median rent of $3,272.

Where is rent cheaper than Chatham for an electrician?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Highlands ($3,267/mo), Morganville ($3,262/mo), Teaneck ($3,260/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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