Rent Affordability for Carpenters in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$60,940/yr
Gross monthly
$5,078
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$1,524/mo
Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest carpenter pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,175/yr | $1,904/mo | View cities › |
| California | $71,909/yr | $1,798/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $70,690/yr | $1,767/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $69,472/yr | $1,737/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $68,253/yr | $1,706/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $68,253/yr | $1,706/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $68,253/yr | $1,706/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $67,034/yr | $1,676/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $65,815/yr | $1,645/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $65,815/yr | $1,645/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest carpenter pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $49,361/yr | $1,234/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $50,580/yr | $1,265/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $51,799/yr | $1,295/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $52,408/yr | $1,310/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $53,018/yr | $1,325/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $53,627/yr | $1,341/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $53,627/yr | $1,341/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $53,627/yr | $1,341/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $53,627/yr | $1,341/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $53,627/yr | $1,341/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIndianaIowaMissouriTennesseeKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent alone?
In most lower- and mid-cost US cities, yes. Union carpenter pay in major metros generally clears the 30% threshold even where rent is elevated.
What rent can a carpenter afford?
At the BLS national mean of $60,940, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.