Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.1% of gross income.
Fort Smith rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Fort Smith, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Smith
View full rent data for Fort Smith, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Median rent in Fort Smith is $1,060 a month. A typical carpenter in Arkansas earns about $50,580 a year, which makes that rent 25.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Fort Smith?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Arkansas (~$50,580/yr) supports up to $1,265 a month in rent. Fort Smith's current median rent is $1,060/mo, which leaves a $205/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Fort Smith?
At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a carpenter in Arkansas works roughly 43.6 hours a month to cover Fort Smith's median rent of $1,060.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Smith for a carpenter?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Bentonville ($1,059/mo), North Little Rock ($1,055/mo), Hot Springs ($1,054/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.