Can A Welder Afford Rent in Laguna Beach, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 98.5% of gross income.

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

Laguna Beach median rent
$4,980/mo
Welder salary (California)
$60,664/yr
Rent as % of income
98.5%
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 $4,980 exceeds that threshold by $3,463/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 170.8 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:

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,944/mo (97.8% of income)
Saratoga, CA
$4,943/mo (97.8% of income)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,942/mo (97.8% 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 $4,980 a month. A typical welder in California earns about $60,664 a year, which makes that rent 98.5% 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 $4,980/mo, which is $3,463/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 170.8 hours a month to cover Laguna Beach's median rent of $4,980.

Where is rent cheaper than Laguna Beach for a welder?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,944/mo), Saratoga ($4,943/mo), Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,942/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.