Can A Welder Afford Rent in Cedar Falls, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.7% of gross income.

Cedar Falls rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Cedar Falls median rent
$1,251/mo
Welder salary (Iowa)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
31.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Cedar Falls's median rent of $1,251 exceeds that threshold by $69/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 55 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Cedar Falls, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Bettendorf, IA
$1,249/mo (31.7% of income)
Indianola, IA
$1,248/mo (31.7% of income)
Pleasant Hill, IA
$1,246/mo (31.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cedar Falls

View full rent data for Cedar Falls, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Cedar Falls, IA?

Median rent in Cedar Falls is $1,251 a month. A typical welder in Iowa earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 31.7% 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 Cedar Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Iowa (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Cedar Falls's current median rent is $1,251/mo, which is $69/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Iowa works roughly 55 hours a month to cover Cedar Falls's median rent of $1,251.

Where is rent cheaper than Cedar Falls for a welder?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Bettendorf ($1,249/mo), Indianola ($1,248/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,246/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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