Can A Welder Afford Rent in Harrisonburg, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.4% of gross income.

Harrisonburg rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Harrisonburg median rent
$1,720/mo
Welder salary (Virginia)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
39.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Harrisonburg's median rent of $1,720 exceeds that threshold by $409/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 68.2 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Harrisonburg, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Culpeper, VA
$1,719/mo (39.3% of income)
Winchester, VA
$1,719/mo (39.3% of income)
East Highland Park, VA
$1,719/mo (39.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Harrisonburg

View full rent data for Harrisonburg, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Harrisonburg, VA?

Median rent in Harrisonburg is $1,720 a month. A typical welder in Virginia earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 39.4% 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 Harrisonburg?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Virginia (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Harrisonburg's current median rent is $1,720/mo, which is $409/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Virginia works roughly 68.2 hours a month to cover Harrisonburg's median rent of $1,720.

Where is rent cheaper than Harrisonburg for a welder?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Culpeper ($1,719/mo), Winchester ($1,719/mo), East Highland Park ($1,719/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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