Can A Welder Afford Rent in Waukesha, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.6% of gross income.

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

Waukesha median rent
$1,490/mo
Welder salary (Wisconsin)
$48,840/yr
Rent as % of income
36.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,221/mo in rent. Waukesha's median rent of $1,490 exceeds that threshold by $269/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 63.5 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Waukesha, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Milwaukee, WI
$1,469/mo (36.1% of income)
Milwaukee, WI
$1,461/mo (35.9% of income)
West Allis, WI
$1,454/mo (35.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waukesha

View full rent data for Waukesha, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Waukesha, WI?

Median rent in Waukesha is $1,490 a month. A typical welder in Wisconsin earns about $48,840 a year, which makes that rent 36.6% 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 Waukesha?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Wisconsin (~$48,840/yr) supports up to $1,221 a month in rent. Waukesha's current median rent is $1,490/mo, which is $269/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Wisconsin works roughly 63.5 hours a month to cover Waukesha's median rent of $1,490.

Where is rent cheaper than Waukesha for a welder?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Milwaukee ($1,469/mo), Milwaukee ($1,461/mo), West Allis ($1,454/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 Waukesha, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.