Can A Welder Afford Rent in Bristol, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49% of gross income.

Bristol rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Bristol median rent
$2,181/mo
Welder salary (Rhode Island)
$53,466/yr
Rent as % of income
49%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,456, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,337/mo in rent. Bristol's median rent of $2,181 exceeds that threshold by $844/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 84.8 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

East Greenwich, RI
$2,178/mo (48.9% of income)
Cumberland, RI
$2,174/mo (48.8% of income)
East Greenwich, RI
$2,173/mo (48.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bristol

View full rent data for Bristol, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Bristol, RI?

Median rent in Bristol is $2,181 a month. A typical welder in Rhode Island earns about $53,466 a year, which makes that rent 49% 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 Bristol?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Rhode Island (~$53,466/yr) supports up to $1,337 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $2,181/mo, which is $844/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a welder in Rhode Island works roughly 84.8 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $2,181.

Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a welder?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include East Greenwich ($2,178/mo), Cumberland ($2,174/mo), East Greenwich ($2,173/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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