Can A Welder Afford Rent in Emporia, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.1% of gross income.

Emporia rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Emporia median rent
$890/mo
Welder salary (Kansas)
$46,269/yr
Rent as % of income
23.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,856, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,157/mo in rent. Emporia's median rent of $890 leaves roughly $267/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 40 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 Emporia, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Pittsburg, KS
$889/mo (23.1% of income)
Junction City, KS
$887/mo (23% of income)
Newton, KS
$885/mo (23% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Emporia

View full rent data for Emporia, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Emporia, KS?

Median rent in Emporia is $890 a month. A typical welder in Kansas earns about $46,269 a year, which makes that rent 23.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Emporia?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Kansas (~$46,269/yr) supports up to $1,157 a month in rent. Emporia's current median rent is $890/mo, which leaves a $267/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a welder in Kansas works roughly 40 hours a month to cover Emporia's median rent of $890.

Where is rent cheaper than Emporia for a welder?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Pittsburg ($889/mo), Junction City ($887/mo), Newton ($885/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 Emporia, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.