Can A Welder Afford Rent in Marion, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.4% of gross income.

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

Marion median rent
$1,278/mo
Welder salary (Iowa)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
32.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Marion's median rent of $1,278 exceeds that threshold by $96/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 56.2 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 Marion, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Bettendorf, IA
$1,277/mo (32.4% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,275/mo (32.3% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,274/mo (32.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marion

View full rent data for Marion, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Marion, IA?

Median rent in Marion is $1,278 a month. A typical welder in Iowa earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 32.4% 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 Marion?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Iowa (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Marion's current median rent is $1,278/mo, which is $96/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Iowa works roughly 56.2 hours a month to cover Marion's median rent of $1,278.

Where is rent cheaper than Marion for a welder?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Bettendorf ($1,277/mo), Iowa City ($1,275/mo), Iowa City ($1,274/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 Marion, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.