Can A Welder Afford Rent in Suffolk, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.4% of gross income.

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

Suffolk median rent
$2,028/mo
Welder salary (Virginia)
$52,438/yr
Rent as % of income
46.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,370, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,311/mo in rent. Suffolk's median rent of $2,028 exceeds that threshold by $717/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 80.4 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 Suffolk, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Charlottesville, VA
$2,027/mo (46.4% of income)
Glen Allen, VA
$2,027/mo (46.4% of income)
Charlottesville, VA
$2,026/mo (46.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Suffolk

View full rent data for Suffolk, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Suffolk, VA?

Median rent in Suffolk is $2,028 a month. A typical welder in Virginia earns about $52,438 a year, which makes that rent 46.4% 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 Suffolk?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Virginia (~$52,438/yr) supports up to $1,311 a month in rent. Suffolk's current median rent is $2,028/mo, which is $717/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a welder in Virginia works roughly 80.4 hours a month to cover Suffolk's median rent of $2,028.

Where is rent cheaper than Suffolk for a welder?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Charlottesville ($2,027/mo), Glen Allen ($2,027/mo), Charlottesville ($2,026/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 Suffolk, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.