Can A Welder Afford Rent in Lakewood, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.1% of gross income.

Lakewood rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Lakewood median rent
$2,021/mo
Welder salary (New Jersey)
$57,579/yr
Rent as % of income
42.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,798, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,439/mo in rent. Lakewood's median rent of $2,021 exceeds that threshold by $582/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 73 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Lakewood, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Paterson, NJ
$2,020/mo (42.1% of income)
Vineland, NJ
$2,018/mo (42.1% of income)
Woodbury, NJ
$2,017/mo (42% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakewood

View full rent data for Lakewood, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Lakewood, NJ?

Median rent in Lakewood is $2,021 a month. A typical welder in New Jersey earns about $57,579 a year, which makes that rent 42.1% 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 Lakewood?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in New Jersey (~$57,579/yr) supports up to $1,439 a month in rent. Lakewood's current median rent is $2,021/mo, which is $582/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a welder in New Jersey works roughly 73 hours a month to cover Lakewood's median rent of $2,021.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakewood for a welder?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Paterson ($2,020/mo), Vineland ($2,018/mo), Woodbury ($2,017/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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