Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Erie, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18% of gross income.

Erie rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Erie median rent
$1,036/mo
Electrician salary (Pennsylvania)
$69,201/yr
Rent as % of income
18%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,767, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,730/mo in rent. Erie's median rent of $1,036 leaves roughly $694/mo of headroom under that threshold. An electrician works roughly 31.1 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Erie, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

McKeesport, PA
$1,034/mo (17.9% of income)
New Castle, PA
$1,032/mo (17.9% of income)
Williamsport, PA
$1,032/mo (17.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Erie

View full rent data for Erie, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Erie, PA?

Median rent in Erie is $1,036 a month. A typical electrician in Pennsylvania earns about $69,201 a year, which makes that rent 18% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Erie?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Pennsylvania (~$69,201/yr) supports up to $1,730 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $1,036/mo, which leaves a $694/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, an electrician in Pennsylvania works roughly 31.1 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $1,036.

Where is rent cheaper than Erie for an electrician?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include McKeesport ($1,034/mo), New Castle ($1,032/mo), Williamsport ($1,032/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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