Can A Welder Afford Rent in Johnston, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.1% of gross income.

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

Johnston median rent
$1,382/mo
Welder salary (Iowa)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
35.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Johnston's median rent of $1,382 exceeds that threshold by $200/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 60.8 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Johnston, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Grimes, IA
$1,379/mo (35% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,378/mo (35% of income)
Grimes, IA
$1,376/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Johnston

View full rent data for Johnston, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Johnston, IA?

Median rent in Johnston is $1,382 a month. A typical welder in Iowa earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 35.1% 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 Johnston?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Iowa (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Johnston's current median rent is $1,382/mo, which is $200/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Iowa works roughly 60.8 hours a month to cover Johnston's median rent of $1,382.

Where is rent cheaper than Johnston for a welder?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Grimes ($1,379/mo), Grimes ($1,378/mo), Grimes ($1,376/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 Johnston, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.