Can A Welder Afford Rent in Great Falls, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.

Great Falls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Great Falls median rent
$1,367/mo
Welder salary (Montana)
$45,241/yr
Rent as % of income
36.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,770, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,131/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $1,367 exceeds that threshold by $236/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 62.8 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Billings, MT
$1,363/mo (36.2% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,363/mo (36.2% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,357/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Great Falls, MT?

Median rent in Great Falls is $1,367 a month. A typical welder in Montana earns about $45,241 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% 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 Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Montana (~$45,241/yr) supports up to $1,131 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $1,367/mo, which is $236/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a welder in Montana works roughly 62.8 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $1,367.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a welder?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Billings ($1,363/mo), Billings ($1,363/mo), Billings ($1,357/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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