Can A Welder Afford Rent in Orono, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.8% of gross income.

Orono rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Orono median rent
$1,625/mo
Welder salary (Maine)
$47,811/yr
Rent as % of income
40.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,984, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,195/mo in rent. Orono's median rent of $1,625 exceeds that threshold by $430/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 70.7 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Orono, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Auburn, ME
$1,622/mo (40.7% of income)
Springvale, ME
$1,620/mo (40.7% of income)
Auburn, ME
$1,611/mo (40.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Orono

View full rent data for Orono, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Orono, ME?

Median rent in Orono is $1,625 a month. A typical welder in Maine earns about $47,811 a year, which makes that rent 40.8% 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 Orono?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Maine (~$47,811/yr) supports up to $1,195 a month in rent. Orono's current median rent is $1,625/mo, which is $430/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Maine works roughly 70.7 hours a month to cover Orono's median rent of $1,625.

Where is rent cheaper than Orono for a welder?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Auburn ($1,622/mo), Springvale ($1,620/mo), Auburn ($1,611/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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