Can A Welder Afford Rent in Key West, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 84.1% of gross income.

Key West rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Key West median rent
$3,351/mo
Welder salary (Florida)
$47,811/yr
Rent as % of income
84.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,984, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,195/mo in rent. Key West's median rent of $3,351 exceeds that threshold by $2,156/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 145.8 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Key West, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Sunny Isles Beach, FL
$3,346/mo (84% of income)
Indian River Shores, FL
$3,333/mo (83.7% of income)
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
$3,320/mo (83.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Key West

View full rent data for Key West, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Key West, FL?

Median rent in Key West is $3,351 a month. A typical welder in Florida earns about $47,811 a year, which makes that rent 84.1% 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 Key West?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Florida (~$47,811/yr) supports up to $1,195 a month in rent. Key West's current median rent is $3,351/mo, which is $2,156/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Florida works roughly 145.8 hours a month to cover Key West's median rent of $3,351.

Where is rent cheaper than Key West for a welder?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Sunny Isles Beach ($3,346/mo), Indian River Shores ($3,333/mo), Sunny Isles Beach ($3,320/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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