Can A Welder Afford Rent in Bedford, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 62.5% of gross income.

Bedford rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Bedford median rent
$3,107/mo
Welder salary (Massachusetts)
$59,636/yr
Rent as % of income
62.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,970, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,491/mo in rent. Bedford's median rent of $3,107 exceeds that threshold by $1,616/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 108.4 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Bedford, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Waltham, MA
$3,106/mo (62.5% of income)
Winchester, MA
$3,104/mo (62.5% of income)
Burlington, MA
$3,104/mo (62.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bedford

View full rent data for Bedford, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Bedford, MA?

Median rent in Bedford is $3,107 a month. A typical welder in Massachusetts earns about $59,636 a year, which makes that rent 62.5% 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 Bedford?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Massachusetts (~$59,636/yr) supports up to $1,491 a month in rent. Bedford's current median rent is $3,107/mo, which is $1,616/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in Massachusetts works roughly 108.4 hours a month to cover Bedford's median rent of $3,107.

Where is rent cheaper than Bedford for a welder?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Waltham ($3,106/mo), Winchester ($3,104/mo), Burlington ($3,104/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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