Can A Welder Afford Rent in Saco, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.9% of gross income.

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

Saco median rent
$2,226/mo
Welder salary (Maine)
$47,811/yr
Rent as % of income
55.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,984, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,195/mo in rent. Saco's median rent of $2,226 exceeds that threshold by $1,031/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 96.8 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Saco, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Yarmouth, ME
$2,224/mo (55.8% of income)
Portland, ME
$2,221/mo (55.7% of income)
Portland, ME
$2,211/mo (55.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saco

View full rent data for Saco, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Saco, ME?

Median rent in Saco is $2,226 a month. A typical welder in Maine earns about $47,811 a year, which makes that rent 55.9% 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 Saco?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Maine (~$47,811/yr) supports up to $1,195 a month in rent. Saco's current median rent is $2,226/mo, which is $1,031/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Maine works roughly 96.8 hours a month to cover Saco's median rent of $2,226.

Where is rent cheaper than Saco for a welder?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Yarmouth ($2,224/mo), Portland ($2,221/mo), Portland ($2,211/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 Saco, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.