Can A Welder Afford Rent in Harlingen, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.8% of gross income.

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

Harlingen median rent
$1,135/mo
Welder salary (Texas)
$50,896/yr
Rent as % of income
26.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,241, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. Harlingen's median rent of $1,135 leaves roughly $137/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 46.4 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 Harlingen, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Orange, TX
$1,133/mo (26.7% of income)
Pasadena, TX
$1,133/mo (26.7% of income)
Longview, TX
$1,132/mo (26.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Harlingen

View full rent data for Harlingen, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Harlingen, TX?

Median rent in Harlingen is $1,135 a month. A typical welder in Texas earns about $50,896 a year, which makes that rent 26.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Harlingen?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Texas (~$50,896/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. Harlingen's current median rent is $1,135/mo, which leaves a $137/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in Texas works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover Harlingen's median rent of $1,135.

Where is rent cheaper than Harlingen for a welder?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Orange ($1,133/mo), Pasadena ($1,133/mo), Longview ($1,132/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 Harlingen, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.