Can A Welder Afford Rent in Kilgore, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 30% of gross income.

Kilgore rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Kilgore median rent
$1,271/mo
Welder salary (Texas)
$50,896/yr
Rent as % of income
30%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,241, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. Kilgore's median rent of $1,271 leaves roughly $1/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 51.9 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 Kilgore, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Port Arthur, TX
$1,270/mo (29.9% of income)
Wichita Falls, TX
$1,269/mo (29.9% of income)
Athens, TX
$1,269/mo (29.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kilgore

View full rent data for Kilgore, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Kilgore, TX?

Median rent in Kilgore is $1,271 a month. A typical welder in Texas earns about $50,896 a year, which makes that rent 30% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Kilgore?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Texas (~$50,896/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. Kilgore's current median rent is $1,271/mo, which leaves a $1/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in Texas works roughly 51.9 hours a month to cover Kilgore's median rent of $1,271.

Where is rent cheaper than Kilgore for a welder?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Port Arthur ($1,270/mo), Wichita Falls ($1,269/mo), Athens ($1,269/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 Kilgore, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.