Can A Welder Afford Rent in Barstow, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.2% of gross income.

Barstow rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Barstow median rent
$1,322/mo
Welder salary (California)
$60,664/yr
Rent as % of income
26.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,055, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,517/mo in rent. Barstow's median rent of $1,322 leaves roughly $195/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 45.3 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 California cities have lower median rent than Barstow, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Red Bluff, CA
$1,321/mo (26.1% of income)
Red Bluff, CA
$1,316/mo (26% of income)
Oroville, CA
$1,315/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Barstow

View full rent data for Barstow, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Barstow, CA?

Median rent in Barstow is $1,322 a month. A typical welder in California earns about $60,664 a year, which makes that rent 26.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Barstow?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in California (~$60,664/yr) supports up to $1,517 a month in rent. Barstow's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which leaves a $195/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in California works roughly 45.3 hours a month to cover Barstow's median rent of $1,322.

Where is rent cheaper than Barstow for a welder?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Red Bluff ($1,321/mo), Red Bluff ($1,316/mo), Oroville ($1,315/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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