Can A Welder Afford Rent in Derby, KS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41% of gross income.

Derby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Derby median rent
$1,582/mo
Welder salary (Kansas)
$46,269/yr
Rent as % of income
41%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,856, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,157/mo in rent. Derby's median rent of $1,582 exceeds that threshold by $425/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 71.1 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Derby, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Gardner, KS
$1,580/mo (41% of income)
Goddard, KS
$1,578/mo (40.9% of income)
Gardner, KS
$1,575/mo (40.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Derby

View full rent data for Derby, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Derby, KS?

Median rent in Derby is $1,582 a month. A typical welder in Kansas earns about $46,269 a year, which makes that rent 41% 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 Derby?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Kansas (~$46,269/yr) supports up to $1,157 a month in rent. Derby's current median rent is $1,582/mo, which is $425/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a welder in Kansas works roughly 71.1 hours a month to cover Derby's median rent of $1,582.

Where is rent cheaper than Derby for a welder?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Gardner ($1,580/mo), Goddard ($1,578/mo), Gardner ($1,575/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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