Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Montgomery, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.8% of gross income.

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

Montgomery median rent
$1,343/mo
Carpenter salary (Alabama)
$52,408/yr
Rent as % of income
30.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,310/mo in rent. Montgomery's median rent of $1,343 exceeds that threshold by $33/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53.3 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 Montgomery, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Fultondale, AL
$1,342/mo (30.7% of income)
Bessemer, AL
$1,341/mo (30.7% of income)
Huntsville, AL
$1,338/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montgomery

View full rent data for Montgomery, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Montgomery, AL?

Median rent in Montgomery is $1,343 a month. A typical carpenter in Alabama earns about $52,408 a year, which makes that rent 30.8% 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 Montgomery?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Alabama (~$52,408/yr) supports up to $1,310 a month in rent. Montgomery's current median rent is $1,343/mo, which is $33/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a carpenter in Alabama works roughly 53.3 hours a month to cover Montgomery's median rent of $1,343.

Where is rent cheaper than Montgomery for a carpenter?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Fultondale ($1,342/mo), Bessemer ($1,341/mo), Huntsville ($1,338/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 Montgomery, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.