Can A Welder Afford Rent in Fort Collins, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.1% of gross income.

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

Fort Collins median rent
$1,938/mo
Welder salary (Colorado)
$53,981/yr
Rent as % of income
43.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,498, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,350/mo in rent. Fort Collins's median rent of $1,938 exceeds that threshold by $588/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 74.7 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 Fort Collins, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Johnstown, CO
$1,937/mo (43.1% of income)
Meridian, CO
$1,937/mo (43.1% of income)
Meridian, CO
$1,937/mo (43.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fort Collins

View full rent data for Fort Collins, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?

Median rent in Fort Collins is $1,938 a month. A typical welder in Colorado earns about $53,981 a year, which makes that rent 43.1% 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 Fort Collins?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Colorado (~$53,981/yr) supports up to $1,350 a month in rent. Fort Collins's current median rent is $1,938/mo, which is $588/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Colorado works roughly 74.7 hours a month to cover Fort Collins's median rent of $1,938.

Where is rent cheaper than Fort Collins for a welder?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Johnstown ($1,937/mo), Meridian ($1,937/mo), Meridian ($1,937/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 Fort Collins, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.