Can A Welder Afford Rent in Wausau, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.8% of gross income.

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

Wausau median rent
$1,050/mo
Welder salary (Wisconsin)
$48,840/yr
Rent as % of income
25.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,221/mo in rent. Wausau's median rent of $1,050 leaves roughly $171/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 44.7 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 Wausau, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Eau Claire, WI
$1,049/mo (25.8% of income)
Beloit, WI
$1,046/mo (25.7% of income)
Green Bay, WI
$1,046/mo (25.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wausau

View full rent data for Wausau, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Wausau, WI?

Median rent in Wausau is $1,050 a month. A typical welder in Wisconsin earns about $48,840 a year, which makes that rent 25.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Wausau?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in Wisconsin (~$48,840/yr) supports up to $1,221 a month in rent. Wausau's current median rent is $1,050/mo, which leaves a $171/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a welder in Wisconsin works roughly 44.7 hours a month to cover Wausau's median rent of $1,050.

Where is rent cheaper than Wausau for a welder?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Eau Claire ($1,049/mo), Beloit ($1,046/mo), Green Bay ($1,046/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 Wausau, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.