Can A Welder Afford Rent in Scarborough, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.8% of gross income.

Scarborough rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Scarborough median rent
$2,742/mo
Welder salary (Maine)
$47,811/yr
Rent as % of income
68.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,984, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,195/mo in rent. Scarborough's median rent of $2,742 exceeds that threshold by $1,547/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 119.3 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 Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Cape Elizabeth, ME
$2,721/mo (68.3% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,716/mo (68.2% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,709/mo (68% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scarborough

View full rent data for Scarborough, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Scarborough, ME?

Median rent in Scarborough is $2,742 a month. A typical welder in Maine earns about $47,811 a year, which makes that rent 68.8% 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 Scarborough?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Maine (~$47,811/yr) supports up to $1,195 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,742/mo, which is $1,547/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Maine works roughly 119.3 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,742.

Where is rent cheaper than Scarborough for a welder?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Cape Elizabeth ($2,721/mo), Kittery ($2,716/mo), Kittery ($2,709/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 Scarborough, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.