Can A Welder Afford Rent in Paducah, KY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.1% of gross income.

Paducah rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Paducah median rent
$1,285/mo
Welder salary (Kentucky)
$45,241/yr
Rent as % of income
34.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,770, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,131/mo in rent. Paducah's median rent of $1,285 exceeds that threshold by $154/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 59.1 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Paducah, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Erlanger, KY
$1,284/mo (34.1% of income)
Bowling Green, KY
$1,284/mo (34.1% of income)
Elizabethtown, KY
$1,283/mo (34% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Paducah

View full rent data for Paducah, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Paducah, KY?

Median rent in Paducah is $1,285 a month. A typical welder in Kentucky earns about $45,241 a year, which makes that rent 34.1% 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 Paducah?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Kentucky (~$45,241/yr) supports up to $1,131 a month in rent. Paducah's current median rent is $1,285/mo, which is $154/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a welder in Kentucky works roughly 59.1 hours a month to cover Paducah's median rent of $1,285.

Where is rent cheaper than Paducah for a welder?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Erlanger ($1,284/mo), Bowling Green ($1,284/mo), Elizabethtown ($1,283/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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