Can A Welder Afford Rent in Bloomington, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.2% of gross income.

Bloomington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Bloomington median rent
$1,363/mo
Welder salary (Illinois)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
31.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Bloomington's median rent of $1,363 exceeds that threshold by $52/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 54.1 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Champaign, IL
$1,361/mo (31.1% of income)
Cicero, IL
$1,361/mo (31.1% of income)
Zion, IL
$1,360/mo (31.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bloomington

View full rent data for Bloomington, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Bloomington, IL?

Median rent in Bloomington is $1,363 a month. A typical welder in Illinois earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 31.2% 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 Bloomington?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Illinois (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,363/mo, which is $52/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Illinois works roughly 54.1 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,363.

Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a welder?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Champaign ($1,361/mo), Cicero ($1,361/mo), Zion ($1,360/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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