Can A Welder Afford Rent in Athens, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.

Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Athens median rent
$1,168/mo
Welder salary (Texas)
$50,896/yr
Rent as % of income
27.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,241, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,168 leaves roughly $104/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 47.7 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

North Richland Hills, TX
$1,167/mo (27.5% of income)
Midland, TX
$1,165/mo (27.5% of income)
Freeport, TX
$1,164/mo (27.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Athens, TX?

Median rent in Athens is $1,168 a month. A typical welder in Texas earns about $50,896 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Texas (~$50,896/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,168/mo, which leaves a $104/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in Texas works roughly 47.7 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,168.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a welder?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include North Richland Hills ($1,167/mo), Midland ($1,165/mo), Freeport ($1,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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