Can A Welder Afford Rent in Forest Grove, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39% of gross income.

Forest Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Forest Grove median rent
$1,738/mo
Welder salary (Oregon)
$53,466/yr
Rent as % of income
39%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,456, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Forest Grove's median rent of $1,738 exceeds that threshold by $401/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 67.6 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Forest Grove, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Canby, OR
$1,736/mo (39% of income)
Albany, OR
$1,736/mo (39% of income)
Woodburn, OR
$1,735/mo (38.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Forest Grove

View full rent data for Forest Grove, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Forest Grove, OR?

Median rent in Forest Grove is $1,738 a month. A typical welder in Oregon earns about $53,466 a year, which makes that rent 39% 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 Forest Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Oregon (~$53,466/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Forest Grove's current median rent is $1,738/mo, which is $401/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Oregon works roughly 67.6 hours a month to cover Forest Grove's median rent of $1,738.

Where is rent cheaper than Forest Grove for a welder?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Canby ($1,736/mo), Albany ($1,736/mo), Woodburn ($1,735/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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