Can A Welder Afford Rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 99.3% of gross income.

South Padre Island rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

South Padre Island median rent
$4,212/mo
Welder salary (Texas)
$50,896/yr
Rent as % of income
99.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,241, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,272/mo in rent. South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212 exceeds that threshold by $2,940/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 172.1 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 South Padre Island, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

University Park, TX
$4,163/mo (98.2% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,358/mo (79.2% of income)
Spicewood, TX
$3,274/mo (77.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Padre Island

View full rent data for South Padre Island, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in South Padre Island, TX?

Median rent in South Padre Island is $4,212 a month. A typical welder in Texas earns about $50,896 a year, which makes that rent 99.3% 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 South Padre Island?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Texas (~$50,896/yr) supports up to $1,272 a month in rent. South Padre Island's current median rent is $4,212/mo, which is $2,940/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a welder work to cover rent in South Padre Island?

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a welder in Texas works roughly 172.1 hours a month to cover South Padre Island's median rent of $4,212.

Where is rent cheaper than South Padre Island for a welder?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include University Park ($4,163/mo), Spicewood ($3,358/mo), Spicewood ($3,274/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 South Padre Island, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.