Can A Welder Afford Rent in Kent, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.2% of gross income.

Kent rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Kent median rent
$1,978/mo
Welder salary (Washington)
$57,579/yr
Rent as % of income
41.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,798, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,439/mo in rent. Kent's median rent of $1,978 exceeds that threshold by $539/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 71.5 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kent, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Sedro-Woolley, WA
$1,977/mo (41.2% of income)
Lacey, WA
$1,977/mo (41.2% of income)
Bellingham, WA
$1,976/mo (41.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kent

View full rent data for Kent, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Kent, WA?

Median rent in Kent is $1,978 a month. A typical welder in Washington earns about $57,579 a year, which makes that rent 41.2% 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 Kent?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Washington (~$57,579/yr) supports up to $1,439 a month in rent. Kent's current median rent is $1,978/mo, which is $539/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a welder in Washington works roughly 71.5 hours a month to cover Kent's median rent of $1,978.

Where is rent cheaper than Kent for a welder?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Sedro-Woolley ($1,977/mo), Lacey ($1,977/mo), Bellingham ($1,976/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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