Can A Welder Afford Rent in Paterson, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.5% of gross income.

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

Paterson median rent
$1,941/mo
Welder salary (New Jersey)
$57,579/yr
Rent as % of income
40.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,798, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,439/mo in rent. Paterson's median rent of $1,941 exceeds that threshold by $502/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 70.1 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 Paterson, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Maple Shade Township, NJ
$1,936/mo (40.3% of income)
Budd Lake, NJ
$1,935/mo (40.3% of income)
Secaucus, NJ
$1,935/mo (40.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Paterson

View full rent data for Paterson, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Paterson, NJ?

Median rent in Paterson is $1,941 a month. A typical welder in New Jersey earns about $57,579 a year, which makes that rent 40.5% 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 Paterson?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in New Jersey (~$57,579/yr) supports up to $1,439 a month in rent. Paterson's current median rent is $1,941/mo, which is $502/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a welder in New Jersey works roughly 70.1 hours a month to cover Paterson's median rent of $1,941.

Where is rent cheaper than Paterson for a welder?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Maple Shade Township ($1,936/mo), Budd Lake ($1,935/mo), Secaucus ($1,935/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 Paterson, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.