Can A Welder Afford Rent in Rolla, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21% of gross income.

Rolla rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Rolla median rent
$828/mo
Welder salary (Missouri)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
21%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Rolla's median rent of $828 leaves roughly $354/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 36.4 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Rolla, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Springfield, MO
$822/mo (20.9% of income)
Kirksville, MO
$806/mo (20.4% of income)
Maryville, MO
$774/mo (19.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rolla

View full rent data for Rolla, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Rolla, MO?

Median rent in Rolla is $828 a month. A typical welder in Missouri earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 21% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Rolla?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Missouri (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Rolla's current median rent is $828/mo, which leaves a $354/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Missouri works roughly 36.4 hours a month to cover Rolla's median rent of $828.

Where is rent cheaper than Rolla for a welder?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($822/mo), Kirksville ($806/mo), Maryville ($774/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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