Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Sterling, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.1% of gross income.

Sterling rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Sterling median rent
$1,070/mo
Carpenter salary (Colorado)
$63,987/yr
Rent as % of income
20.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,332, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,600/mo in rent. Sterling's median rent of $1,070 leaves roughly $530/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 34.8 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Sterling, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Pueblo, CO
$1,062/mo (19.9% of income)
Pueblo, CO
$959/mo (18% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sterling

View full rent data for Sterling, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Sterling, CO?

Median rent in Sterling is $1,070 a month. A typical carpenter in Colorado earns about $63,987 a year, which makes that rent 20.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Sterling?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Colorado (~$63,987/yr) supports up to $1,600 a month in rent. Sterling's current median rent is $1,070/mo, which leaves a $530/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a carpenter in Colorado works roughly 34.8 hours a month to cover Sterling's median rent of $1,070.

Where is rent cheaper than Sterling for a carpenter?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Pueblo ($1,062/mo), Pueblo ($959/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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