Can A Welder Afford Rent in Bismarck, ND?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

Bismarck rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Bismarck median rent
$1,372/mo
Welder salary (North Dakota)
$49,868/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,156, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,247/mo in rent. Bismarck's median rent of $1,372 exceeds that threshold by $125/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 57.2 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Bismarck, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Williston, ND
$1,353/mo (32.6% of income)
West Fargo, ND
$1,350/mo (32.5% of income)
West Fargo, ND
$1,336/mo (32.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bismarck

View full rent data for Bismarck, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Bismarck, ND?

Median rent in Bismarck is $1,372 a month. A typical welder in North Dakota earns about $49,868 a year, which makes that rent 33% 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 Bismarck?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in North Dakota (~$49,868/yr) supports up to $1,247 a month in rent. Bismarck's current median rent is $1,372/mo, which is $125/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in North Dakota works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Bismarck's median rent of $1,372.

Where is rent cheaper than Bismarck for a welder?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Williston ($1,353/mo), West Fargo ($1,350/mo), West Fargo ($1,336/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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