Can A Welder Afford Rent in Radford, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.4% of gross income.

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

Radford median rent
$1,503/mo
Welder salary (Virginia)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
34.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Radford's median rent of $1,503 exceeds that threshold by $192/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 59.6 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 Radford, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Portsmouth, VA
$1,500/mo (34.3% of income)
Newport News, VA
$1,499/mo (34.3% of income)
Staunton, VA
$1,499/mo (34.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Radford

View full rent data for Radford, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Radford, VA?

Median rent in Radford is $1,503 a month. A typical welder in Virginia earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 34.4% 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 Radford?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Virginia (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Radford's current median rent is $1,503/mo, which is $192/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Virginia works roughly 59.6 hours a month to cover Radford's median rent of $1,503.

Where is rent cheaper than Radford for a welder?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Portsmouth ($1,500/mo), Newport News ($1,499/mo), Staunton ($1,499/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 Radford, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.