Can A Welder Afford Rent in Lexington, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 86% of gross income.

Lexington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Lexington median rent
$4,274/mo
Welder salary (Massachusetts)
$59,636/yr
Rent as % of income
86%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,970, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,491/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $4,274 exceeds that threshold by $2,783/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 149.1 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Brookline, MA
$4,137/mo (83.2% of income)
Brookline, MA
$4,107/mo (82.6% of income)
Brookline, MA
$4,072/mo (81.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Lexington, MA?

Median rent in Lexington is $4,274 a month. A typical welder in Massachusetts earns about $59,636 a year, which makes that rent 86% 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 Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Massachusetts (~$59,636/yr) supports up to $1,491 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $4,274/mo, which is $2,783/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in Massachusetts works roughly 149.1 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $4,274.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a welder?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brookline ($4,137/mo), Brookline ($4,107/mo), Brookline ($4,072/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 Lexington, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.