Can A Welder Afford Rent in Carol Stream, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.7% of gross income.

Carol Stream rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Carol Stream median rent
$1,822/mo
Welder salary (Illinois)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
41.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Carol Stream's median rent of $1,822 exceeds that threshold by $511/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 72.3 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 Carol Stream, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Bensenville, IL
$1,819/mo (41.6% of income)
Gurnee, IL
$1,813/mo (41.5% of income)
Westmont, IL
$1,812/mo (41.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carol Stream

View full rent data for Carol Stream, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Carol Stream, IL?

Median rent in Carol Stream is $1,822 a month. A typical welder in Illinois earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 41.7% 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 Carol Stream?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Illinois (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Carol Stream's current median rent is $1,822/mo, which is $511/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Illinois works roughly 72.3 hours a month to cover Carol Stream's median rent of $1,822.

Where is rent cheaper than Carol Stream for a welder?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Bensenville ($1,819/mo), Gurnee ($1,813/mo), Westmont ($1,812/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 Carol Stream, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.