Can A Welder Afford Rent in Surprise, AZ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.4% of gross income.

Surprise rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Surprise median rent
$1,927/mo
Welder salary (Arizona)
$49,868/yr
Rent as % of income
46.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,156, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,247/mo in rent. Surprise's median rent of $1,927 exceeds that threshold by $680/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 80.4 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Surprise, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Prescott, AZ
$1,925/mo (46.3% of income)
Prescott, AZ
$1,924/mo (46.3% of income)
Prescott, AZ
$1,924/mo (46.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Surprise

View full rent data for Surprise, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Surprise, AZ?

Median rent in Surprise is $1,927 a month. A typical welder in Arizona earns about $49,868 a year, which makes that rent 46.4% 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 Surprise?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Arizona (~$49,868/yr) supports up to $1,247 a month in rent. Surprise's current median rent is $1,927/mo, which is $680/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in Arizona works roughly 80.4 hours a month to cover Surprise's median rent of $1,927.

Where is rent cheaper than Surprise for a welder?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Prescott ($1,925/mo), Prescott ($1,924/mo), Prescott ($1,924/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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