Can A Welder Afford Rent in Grimes, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.4% of gross income.

Grimes rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Grimes median rent
$1,435/mo
Welder salary (Iowa)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
36.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Grimes's median rent of $1,435 exceeds that threshold by $253/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 63.1 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 Grimes, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Johnston, IA
$1,432/mo (36.3% of income)
Johnston, IA
$1,430/mo (36.3% of income)
North Liberty, IA
$1,430/mo (36.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grimes

View full rent data for Grimes, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Grimes, IA?

Median rent in Grimes is $1,435 a month. A typical welder in Iowa earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 36.4% 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 Grimes?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Iowa (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Grimes's current median rent is $1,435/mo, which is $253/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Iowa works roughly 63.1 hours a month to cover Grimes's median rent of $1,435.

Where is rent cheaper than Grimes for a welder?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Johnston ($1,432/mo), Johnston ($1,430/mo), North Liberty ($1,430/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 Grimes, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.