Can A Welder Afford Rent in Rockport, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

Rockport rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Rockport median rent
$1,795/mo
Welder salary (Massachusetts)
$59,636/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,970, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,491/mo in rent. Rockport's median rent of $1,795 exceeds that threshold by $304/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 62.6 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 Rockport, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Chicopee, MA
$1,793/mo (36.1% of income)
Fall River, MA
$1,791/mo (36% of income)
Springfield, MA
$1,790/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rockport

View full rent data for Rockport, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Rockport, MA?

Median rent in Rockport is $1,795 a month. A typical welder in Massachusetts earns about $59,636 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% 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 Rockport?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Massachusetts (~$59,636/yr) supports up to $1,491 a month in rent. Rockport's current median rent is $1,795/mo, which is $304/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in Massachusetts works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Rockport's median rent of $1,795.

Where is rent cheaper than Rockport for a welder?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Chicopee ($1,793/mo), Fall River ($1,791/mo), Springfield ($1,790/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 Rockport, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.