Can A Welder Afford Rent in Santa Fe, NM?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.

Santa Fe rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Santa Fe median rent
$1,882/mo
Welder salary (New Mexico)
$46,269/yr
Rent as % of income
48.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,856, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,157/mo in rent. Santa Fe's median rent of $1,882 exceeds that threshold by $725/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 84.6 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 Mexico cities have lower median rent than Santa Fe, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Rio Rancho, NM
$1,875/mo (48.6% of income)
Rio Rancho, NM
$1,875/mo (48.6% of income)
Rio Rancho, NM
$1,871/mo (48.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Santa Fe

View full rent data for Santa Fe, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Santa Fe, NM?

Median rent in Santa Fe is $1,882 a month. A typical welder in New Mexico earns about $46,269 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 Santa Fe?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in New Mexico (~$46,269/yr) supports up to $1,157 a month in rent. Santa Fe's current median rent is $1,882/mo, which is $725/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a welder in New Mexico works roughly 84.6 hours a month to cover Santa Fe's median rent of $1,882.

Where is rent cheaper than Santa Fe for a welder?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Rio Rancho ($1,875/mo), Rio Rancho ($1,875/mo), Rio Rancho ($1,871/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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