Can A Welder Afford Rent in Lowell, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.6% of gross income.

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

Lowell median rent
$2,316/mo
Welder salary (Massachusetts)
$59,636/yr
Rent as % of income
46.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,970, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,491/mo in rent. Lowell's median rent of $2,316 exceeds that threshold by $825/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 80.8 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 Lowell, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Clinton, MA
$2,313/mo (46.5% of income)
Northampton, MA
$2,312/mo (46.5% of income)
Northampton, MA
$2,310/mo (46.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lowell

View full rent data for Lowell, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Lowell, MA?

Median rent in Lowell is $2,316 a month. A typical welder in Massachusetts earns about $59,636 a year, which makes that rent 46.6% 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 Lowell?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Massachusetts (~$59,636/yr) supports up to $1,491 a month in rent. Lowell's current median rent is $2,316/mo, which is $825/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in Massachusetts works roughly 80.8 hours a month to cover Lowell's median rent of $2,316.

Where is rent cheaper than Lowell for a welder?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Clinton ($2,313/mo), Northampton ($2,312/mo), Northampton ($2,310/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 Lowell, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.