Can A Welder Afford Rent in Hilo, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

Hilo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).

Hilo median rent
$2,095/mo
Welder salary (Hawaii)
$55,523/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,627, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,388/mo in rent. Hilo's median rent of $2,095 exceeds that threshold by $707/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 78.5 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 Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Hilo, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Wahiawa, HI
$2,093/mo (45.2% of income)
Wahiawa, HI
$2,087/mo (45.1% of income)
Waianae, HI
$2,086/mo (45.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hilo

View full rent data for Hilo, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Hilo, HI?

Median rent in Hilo is $2,095 a month. A typical welder in Hawaii earns about $55,523 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Hilo?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Hawaii (~$55,523/yr) supports up to $1,388 a month in rent. Hilo's current median rent is $2,095/mo, which is $707/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a welder in Hawaii works roughly 78.5 hours a month to cover Hilo's median rent of $2,095.

Where is rent cheaper than Hilo for a welder?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Wahiawa ($2,093/mo), Wahiawa ($2,087/mo), Waianae ($2,086/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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