Can A Welder Afford Rent in Lawrence, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.7% of gross income.

Lawrence rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Lawrence median rent
$2,372/mo
Welder salary (Massachusetts)
$59,636/yr
Rent as % of income
47.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,970, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,491/mo in rent. Lawrence's median rent of $2,372 exceeds that threshold by $881/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 82.7 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 Lawrence, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Millbury, MA
$2,371/mo (47.7% of income)
Shrewsbury, MA
$2,370/mo (47.7% of income)
Marshfield, MA
$2,366/mo (47.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lawrence

View full rent data for Lawrence, MA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Lawrence, MA?

Median rent in Lawrence is $2,372 a month. A typical welder in Massachusetts earns about $59,636 a year, which makes that rent 47.7% 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 Lawrence?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Massachusetts (~$59,636/yr) supports up to $1,491 a month in rent. Lawrence's current median rent is $2,372/mo, which is $881/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in Massachusetts works roughly 82.7 hours a month to cover Lawrence's median rent of $2,372.

Where is rent cheaper than Lawrence for a welder?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Millbury ($2,371/mo), Shrewsbury ($2,370/mo), Marshfield ($2,366/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 Lawrence, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.