Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Salem, OR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.2% of gross income.
Salem rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).
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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Salem, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:
Compare with full rent data for Salem
View full rent data for Salem, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can an electrician afford rent in Salem, OR?
Median rent in Salem is $1,585 a month. A typical electrician in Oregon earns about $72,696 a year, which makes that rent 26.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can an electrician afford in Salem?
Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Oregon (~$72,696/yr) supports up to $1,817 a month in rent. Salem's current median rent is $1,585/mo, which leaves a $232/mo buffer.
How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Salem?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, an electrician in Oregon works roughly 45.4 hours a month to cover Salem's median rent of $1,585.
Where is rent cheaper than Salem for an electrician?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,584/mo), Springfield ($1,583/mo), Happy Valley ($1,582/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.