Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.8% of gross income.

Portsmouth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Portsmouth median rent
$3,378/mo
Electrician salary (Rhode Island)
$72,696/yr
Rent as % of income
55.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,058, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,817/mo in rent. Portsmouth's median rent of $3,378 exceeds that threshold by $1,561/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 96.7 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Newport, RI
$3,284/mo (54.2% of income)
Newport, RI
$3,281/mo (54.2% of income)
Middletown, RI
$3,229/mo (53.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth

View full rent data for Portsmouth, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Median rent in Portsmouth is $3,378 a month. A typical electrician in Rhode Island earns about $72,696 a year, which makes that rent 55.8% 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 Portsmouth?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Rhode Island (~$72,696/yr) supports up to $1,817 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $3,378/mo, which is $1,561/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, an electrician in Rhode Island works roughly 96.7 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $3,378.

Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for an electrician?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Newport ($3,284/mo), Newport ($3,281/mo), Middletown ($3,229/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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