Can A Welder Afford Rent in Zion, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.9% of gross income.

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

Zion median rent
$1,526/mo
Welder salary (Illinois)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
34.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Zion's median rent of $1,526 exceeds that threshold by $215/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 60.5 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 Zion, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Calumet City, IL
$1,525/mo (34.9% of income)
Edwardsville, IL
$1,525/mo (34.9% of income)
Edwardsville, IL
$1,524/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Zion

View full rent data for Zion, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Zion, IL?

Median rent in Zion is $1,526 a month. A typical welder in Illinois earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 34.9% 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 Zion?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Illinois (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Zion's current median rent is $1,526/mo, which is $215/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Illinois works roughly 60.5 hours a month to cover Zion's median rent of $1,526.

Where is rent cheaper than Zion for a welder?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Calumet City ($1,525/mo), Edwardsville ($1,525/mo), Edwardsville ($1,524/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 Zion, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.