Can A Welder Afford Rent in Cortez, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.8% of gross income.

Cortez rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Cortez median rent
$1,567/mo
Welder salary (Colorado)
$53,981/yr
Rent as % of income
34.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,498, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,350/mo in rent. Cortez's median rent of $1,567 exceeds that threshold by $217/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 60.4 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Cortez, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Longmont, CO
$1,559/mo (34.7% of income)
Northglenn, CO
$1,557/mo (34.6% of income)
Fort Collins, CO
$1,544/mo (34.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cortez

View full rent data for Cortez, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Cortez, CO?

Median rent in Cortez is $1,567 a month. A typical welder in Colorado earns about $53,981 a year, which makes that rent 34.8% 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 Cortez?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Colorado (~$53,981/yr) supports up to $1,350 a month in rent. Cortez's current median rent is $1,567/mo, which is $217/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Colorado works roughly 60.4 hours a month to cover Cortez's median rent of $1,567.

Where is rent cheaper than Cortez for a welder?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Longmont ($1,559/mo), Northglenn ($1,557/mo), Fort Collins ($1,544/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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