Can A Welder Afford Rent in Selma, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31% of gross income.

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

Selma median rent
$1,314/mo
Welder salary (Texas)
$50,896/yr
Rent as % of income
31%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,241, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. Selma's median rent of $1,314 exceeds that threshold by $42/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 53.7 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 Selma, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Lufkin, TX
$1,313/mo (31% of income)
Port Arthur, TX
$1,312/mo (30.9% of income)
Texarkana, TX
$1,311/mo (30.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Selma

View full rent data for Selma, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Selma, TX?

Median rent in Selma is $1,314 a month. A typical welder in Texas earns about $50,896 a year, which makes that rent 31% 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 Selma?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Texas (~$50,896/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. Selma's current median rent is $1,314/mo, which is $42/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in Texas works roughly 53.7 hours a month to cover Selma's median rent of $1,314.

Where is rent cheaper than Selma for a welder?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Lufkin ($1,313/mo), Port Arthur ($1,312/mo), Texarkana ($1,311/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 Selma, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.