Can A Welder Afford Rent in Lincoln, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.8% of gross income.

Lincoln rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Lincoln median rent
$1,345/mo
Welder salary (Nebraska)
$47,811/yr
Rent as % of income
33.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,984, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,195/mo in rent. Lincoln's median rent of $1,345 exceeds that threshold by $150/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 58.5 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Lincoln, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

La Vista, NE
$1,341/mo (33.7% of income)
Bellevue, NE
$1,340/mo (33.6% of income)
Bellevue, NE
$1,339/mo (33.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lincoln

View full rent data for Lincoln, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Lincoln, NE?

Median rent in Lincoln is $1,345 a month. A typical welder in Nebraska earns about $47,811 a year, which makes that rent 33.8% 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 Lincoln?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Nebraska (~$47,811/yr) supports up to $1,195 a month in rent. Lincoln's current median rent is $1,345/mo, which is $150/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Nebraska works roughly 58.5 hours a month to cover Lincoln's median rent of $1,345.

Where is rent cheaper than Lincoln for a welder?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include La Vista ($1,341/mo), Bellevue ($1,340/mo), Bellevue ($1,339/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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