Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Albuquerque, NM?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Albuquerque rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Albuquerque median rent
$1,486/mo
Electrician salary (New Mexico)
$62,910/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,243, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,573/mo in rent. Albuquerque's median rent of $1,486 leaves roughly $87/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 49.1 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 New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Albuquerque, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Alamogordo, NM
$1,484/mo (28.3% of income)
Hobbs, NM
$1,475/mo (28.1% of income)
Alamogordo, NM
$1,473/mo (28.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albuquerque

View full rent data for Albuquerque, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Albuquerque, NM?

Median rent in Albuquerque is $1,486 a month. A typical electrician in New Mexico earns about $62,910 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Albuquerque?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in New Mexico (~$62,910/yr) supports up to $1,573 a month in rent. Albuquerque's current median rent is $1,486/mo, which leaves a $87/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, an electrician in New Mexico works roughly 49.1 hours a month to cover Albuquerque's median rent of $1,486.

Where is rent cheaper than Albuquerque for an electrician?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Alamogordo ($1,484/mo), Hobbs ($1,475/mo), Alamogordo ($1,473/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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