Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Madison, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

Madison rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Madison median rent
$1,442/mo
Carpenter salary (Alabama)
$52,408/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,310/mo in rent. Madison's median rent of $1,442 exceeds that threshold by $132/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alabama cities have lower median rent than Madison, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Enterprise, AL
$1,441/mo (33% of income)
Enterprise, AL
$1,439/mo (32.9% of income)
Homewood, AL
$1,438/mo (32.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison

View full rent data for Madison, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Madison, AL?

Median rent in Madison is $1,442 a month. A typical carpenter in Alabama earns about $52,408 a year, which makes that rent 33% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Madison?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Alabama (~$52,408/yr) supports up to $1,310 a month in rent. Madison's current median rent is $1,442/mo, which is $132/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Madison?

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a carpenter in Alabama works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Madison's median rent of $1,442.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison for a carpenter?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Enterprise ($1,441/mo), Enterprise ($1,439/mo), Homewood ($1,438/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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