Can A Welder Afford Rent in Starkville, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

Starkville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Starkville median rent
$1,571/mo
Welder salary (Mississippi)
$41,642/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,470, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,041/mo in rent. Starkville's median rent of $1,571 exceeds that threshold by $530/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 78.5 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Starkville, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Olive Branch, MS
$1,567/mo (45.2% of income)
Horn Lake, MS
$1,551/mo (44.7% of income)
Diberville, MS
$1,549/mo (44.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Starkville

View full rent data for Starkville, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Starkville, MS?

Median rent in Starkville is $1,571 a month. A typical welder in Mississippi earns about $41,642 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Starkville?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Mississippi (~$41,642/yr) supports up to $1,041 a month in rent. Starkville's current median rent is $1,571/mo, which is $530/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a welder in Mississippi works roughly 78.5 hours a month to cover Starkville's median rent of $1,571.

Where is rent cheaper than Starkville for a welder?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Olive Branch ($1,567/mo), Horn Lake ($1,551/mo), Diberville ($1,549/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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