Can A Welder Afford Rent in Kingsport, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.7% of gross income.

Kingsport rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Kingsport median rent
$1,289/mo
Welder salary (Tennessee)
$47,297/yr
Rent as % of income
32.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,941, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,182/mo in rent. Kingsport's median rent of $1,289 exceeds that threshold by $107/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 56.7 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Kingsport, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Johnson City, TN
$1,286/mo (32.6% of income)
Johnson City, TN
$1,285/mo (32.6% of income)
East Ridge, TN
$1,285/mo (32.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kingsport

View full rent data for Kingsport, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Kingsport, TN?

Median rent in Kingsport is $1,289 a month. A typical welder in Tennessee earns about $47,297 a year, which makes that rent 32.7% 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 Kingsport?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Tennessee (~$47,297/yr) supports up to $1,182 a month in rent. Kingsport's current median rent is $1,289/mo, which is $107/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Tennessee works roughly 56.7 hours a month to cover Kingsport's median rent of $1,289.

Where is rent cheaper than Kingsport for a welder?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Johnson City ($1,286/mo), Johnson City ($1,285/mo), East Ridge ($1,285/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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