Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Arlington, VA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.
Arlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:
Compare with full rent data for Arlington
View full rent data for Arlington, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can an electrician afford rent in Arlington, VA?
Median rent in Arlington is $2,722 a month. A typical electrician in Virginia earns about $71,298 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% 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 Arlington?
Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in Virginia (~$71,298/yr) supports up to $1,782 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $2,722/mo, which is $940/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Arlington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, an electrician in Virginia works roughly 79.4 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $2,722.
Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for an electrician?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Sterling ($2,718/mo), Springfield ($2,716/mo), Ashburn ($2,715/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.