Can A Welder Afford Rent in Springfield, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.9% of gross income.

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

Springfield median rent
$1,176/mo
Welder salary (Illinois)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
26.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $1,176 leaves roughly $135/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 46.6 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 Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Pontoon Beach, IL
$1,175/mo (26.9% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,175/mo (26.9% of income)
Collinsville, IL
$1,170/mo (26.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Springfield, IL?

Median rent in Springfield is $1,176 a month. A typical welder in Illinois earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 26.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Illinois (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,176/mo, which leaves a $135/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Illinois works roughly 46.6 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,176.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a welder?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Pontoon Beach ($1,175/mo), Shiloh ($1,175/mo), Collinsville ($1,170/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 Springfield, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.