Can A Welder Afford Rent in Van Buren, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.2% of gross income.

Van Buren rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Van Buren median rent
$1,108/mo
Welder salary (Arkansas)
$42,670/yr
Rent as % of income
31.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,556, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,067/mo in rent. Van Buren's median rent of $1,108 exceeds that threshold by $41/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 54 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a welder salary

Welder pay tracks the US median household income closely. Pipeline and underwater welders earn materially more. At the national-average welder salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,285 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Van Buren, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

North Little Rock, AR
$1,107/mo (31.1% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$1,106/mo (31.1% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$1,105/mo (31.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Van Buren

View full rent data for Van Buren, AR →

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Van Buren, AR?

Median rent in Van Buren is $1,108 a month. A typical welder in Arkansas earns about $42,670 a year, which makes that rent 31.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a welder afford in Van Buren?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Arkansas (~$42,670/yr) supports up to $1,067 a month in rent. Van Buren's current median rent is $1,108/mo, which is $41/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a welder work to cover rent in Van Buren?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a welder in Arkansas works roughly 54 hours a month to cover Van Buren's median rent of $1,108.

Where is rent cheaper than Van Buren for a welder?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,107/mo), North Little Rock ($1,106/mo), North Little Rock ($1,105/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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