Can A Welder Afford Rent in Appleton, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

Appleton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Appleton median rent
$1,187/mo
Welder salary (Wisconsin)
$48,840/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,221/mo in rent. Appleton's median rent of $1,187 leaves roughly $34/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 50.6 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Appleton, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Janesville, WI
$1,186/mo (29.1% of income)
Stevens Point, WI
$1,186/mo (29.1% of income)
Fond du Lac, WI
$1,186/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Appleton

View full rent data for Appleton, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Appleton, WI?

Median rent in Appleton is $1,187 a month. A typical welder in Wisconsin earns about $48,840 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Appleton?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Wisconsin (~$48,840/yr) supports up to $1,221 a month in rent. Appleton's current median rent is $1,187/mo, which leaves a $34/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Wisconsin works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Appleton's median rent of $1,187.

Where is rent cheaper than Appleton for a welder?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Janesville ($1,186/mo), Stevens Point ($1,186/mo), Fond du Lac ($1,186/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

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