Can A Welder Afford Rent in Medford, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.6% of gross income.

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

Medford median rent
$1,721/mo
Welder salary (Oregon)
$53,466/yr
Rent as % of income
38.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,456, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Medford's median rent of $1,721 exceeds that threshold by $384/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 67 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 Medford, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Independence, OR
$1,720/mo (38.6% of income)
Forest Grove, OR
$1,719/mo (38.6% of income)
Clackamas, OR
$1,718/mo (38.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Medford

View full rent data for Medford, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Medford, OR?

Median rent in Medford is $1,721 a month. A typical welder in Oregon earns about $53,466 a year, which makes that rent 38.6% 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 Medford?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Oregon (~$53,466/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Medford's current median rent is $1,721/mo, which is $384/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Oregon works roughly 67 hours a month to cover Medford's median rent of $1,721.

Where is rent cheaper than Medford for a welder?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Independence ($1,720/mo), Forest Grove ($1,719/mo), Clackamas ($1,718/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 Medford, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.