Can A Welder Afford Rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 100.3% of gross income.

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

Laguna Beach median rent
$5,068/mo
Welder salary (California)
$60,664/yr
Rent as % of income
100.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,055, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,517/mo in rent. Laguna Beach's median rent of $5,068 exceeds that threshold by $3,551/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 173.8 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 Laguna Beach, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Tiburon, CA
$5,059/mo (100.1% of income)
Topanga, CA
$5,025/mo (99.4% of income)
Westlake Village, CA
$5,001/mo (98.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laguna Beach

View full rent data for Laguna Beach, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Median rent in Laguna Beach is $5,068 a month. A typical welder in California earns about $60,664 a year, which makes that rent 100.3% 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 Laguna Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in California (~$60,664/yr) supports up to $1,517 a month in rent. Laguna Beach's current median rent is $5,068/mo, which is $3,551/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in California works roughly 173.8 hours a month to cover Laguna Beach's median rent of $5,068.

Where is rent cheaper than Laguna Beach for a welder?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Tiburon ($5,059/mo), Topanga ($5,025/mo), Westlake Village ($5,001/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 Laguna Beach, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.