Can A Welder Afford Rent in Bloomington, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.1% of gross income.

Bloomington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Bloomington median rent
$1,463/mo
Welder salary (Indiana)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
37.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Bloomington's median rent of $1,463 exceeds that threshold by $281/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 64.3 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Valparaiso, IN
$1,458/mo (37% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,454/mo (36.9% of income)
Valparaiso, IN
$1,450/mo (36.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bloomington

View full rent data for Bloomington, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Bloomington, IN?

Median rent in Bloomington is $1,463 a month. A typical welder in Indiana earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 37.1% 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 Bloomington?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Indiana (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,463/mo, which is $281/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Indiana works roughly 64.3 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,463.

Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a welder?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Valparaiso ($1,458/mo), Hammond ($1,454/mo), Valparaiso ($1,450/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Indiana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bloomington, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.