Can A Welder Afford Rent in Harrisonburg, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.3% of gross income.

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

Harrisonburg median rent
$1,848/mo
Welder salary (Virginia)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
42.3%
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 $1,848 exceeds that threshold by $537/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 73.3 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:

Suffolk, VA
$1,846/mo (42.2% of income)
Spotsylvania, VA
$1,838/mo (42.1% of income)
Blacksburg, VA
$1,837/mo (42% 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 $1,848 a month. A typical welder in Virginia earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 42.3% 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 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 $1,848/mo, which is $537/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 73.3 hours a month to cover Harrisonburg's median rent of $1,848.

Where is rent cheaper than Harrisonburg for a welder?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Suffolk ($1,846/mo), Spotsylvania ($1,838/mo), Blacksburg ($1,837/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.