Can A Welder Afford Rent in Wood River, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

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

Wood River median rent
$1,081/mo
Welder salary (Illinois)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Wood River's median rent of $1,081 leaves roughly $230/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 42.9 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 Wood River, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Kankakee, IL
$1,079/mo (24.7% of income)
Belleville, IL
$1,079/mo (24.7% of income)
Fairview Heights, IL
$1,078/mo (24.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wood River

View full rent data for Wood River, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Wood River, IL?

Median rent in Wood River is $1,081 a month. A typical welder in Illinois earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Wood River?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Illinois (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Wood River's current median rent is $1,081/mo, which leaves a $230/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Illinois works roughly 42.9 hours a month to cover Wood River's median rent of $1,081.

Where is rent cheaper than Wood River for a welder?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Kankakee ($1,079/mo), Belleville ($1,079/mo), Fairview Heights ($1,078/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 Wood River, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.