Can A Welder Afford Rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.8% of gross income.

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

Marshalltown median rent
$978/mo
Welder salary (Iowa)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
24.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Marshalltown's median rent of $978 leaves roughly $204/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 43 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 Marshalltown, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Davenport, IA
$973/mo (24.7% of income)
Knoxville, IA
$970/mo (24.6% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$964/mo (24.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marshalltown

View full rent data for Marshalltown, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Marshalltown, IA?

Median rent in Marshalltown is $978 a month. A typical welder in Iowa earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 24.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Marshalltown?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Iowa (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Marshalltown's current median rent is $978/mo, which leaves a $204/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Iowa works roughly 43 hours a month to cover Marshalltown's median rent of $978.

Where is rent cheaper than Marshalltown for a welder?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Davenport ($973/mo), Knoxville ($970/mo), Des Moines ($964/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 Marshalltown, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.