Can A Welder Afford Rent in Highland Park, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.2% of gross income.

Highland Park rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Highland Park median rent
$2,980/mo
Welder salary (Illinois)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
68.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Highland Park's median rent of $2,980 exceeds that threshold by $1,669/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 118.2 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Highland Park, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Northbrook, IL
$2,959/mo (67.7% of income)
Northbrook, IL
$2,949/mo (67.5% of income)
Northbrook, IL
$2,920/mo (66.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Highland Park

View full rent data for Highland Park, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Highland Park, IL?

Median rent in Highland Park is $2,980 a month. A typical welder in Illinois earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 68.2% 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 Highland Park?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Illinois (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Highland Park's current median rent is $2,980/mo, which is $1,669/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Illinois works roughly 118.2 hours a month to cover Highland Park's median rent of $2,980.

Where is rent cheaper than Highland Park for a welder?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Northbrook ($2,959/mo), Northbrook ($2,949/mo), Northbrook ($2,920/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 Highland Park, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.