Can A Welder Afford Rent in Denver, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.7% of gross income.

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

Denver median rent
$1,877/mo
Welder salary (Colorado)
$53,981/yr
Rent as % of income
41.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,498, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,350/mo in rent. Denver's median rent of $1,877 exceeds that threshold by $527/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 72.3 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Denver, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Thornton, CO
$1,876/mo (41.7% of income)
Longmont, CO
$1,875/mo (41.7% of income)
Thornton, CO
$1,875/mo (41.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Denver

View full rent data for Denver, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Denver, CO?

Median rent in Denver is $1,877 a month. A typical welder in Colorado earns about $53,981 a year, which makes that rent 41.7% 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 Denver?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Colorado (~$53,981/yr) supports up to $1,350 a month in rent. Denver's current median rent is $1,877/mo, which is $527/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Colorado works roughly 72.3 hours a month to cover Denver's median rent of $1,877.

Where is rent cheaper than Denver for a welder?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Thornton ($1,876/mo), Longmont ($1,875/mo), Thornton ($1,875/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 Denver, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.