Can A Welder Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.5% of gross income.

Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Albert Lea median rent
$960/mo
Welder salary (Minnesota)
$53,466/yr
Rent as % of income
21.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,456, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Albert Lea's median rent of $960 leaves roughly $377/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 37.3 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Austin, MN
$947/mo (21.3% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (20.3% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (19.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea

View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical welder in Minnesota earns about $53,466 a year, which makes that rent 21.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Albert Lea?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Minnesota (~$53,466/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $377/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Minnesota works roughly 37.3 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.

Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a welder?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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