Can A Welder Afford Rent in Bismarck, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

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

Bismarck median rent
$1,242/mo
Welder salary (North Dakota)
$49,868/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
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 $1,242 leaves roughly $5/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 51.8 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Bismarck, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Minot, ND
$1,240/mo (29.8% of income)
Dickinson, ND
$1,238/mo (29.8% of income)
Watford City, ND
$1,236/mo (29.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bismarck

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Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Bismarck, ND?

Median rent in Bismarck is $1,242 a month. A typical welder in North Dakota earns about $49,868 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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 $1,242/mo, which leaves a $5/mo buffer.

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 51.8 hours a month to cover Bismarck's median rent of $1,242.

Where is rent cheaper than Bismarck for a welder?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Minot ($1,240/mo), Dickinson ($1,238/mo), Watford City ($1,236/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.