Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Wailuku, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.3% of gross income.

Wailuku rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).

Wailuku median rent
$3,691/mo
Carpenter salary (Hawaii)
$65,815/yr
Rent as % of income
67.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,485, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,645/mo in rent. Wailuku's median rent of $3,691 exceeds that threshold by $2,046/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 116.6 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 Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Wailuku, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Kailua Kona, HI
$3,652/mo (66.6% of income)
Kihei, HI
$3,642/mo (66.4% of income)
Kailua, HI
$3,626/mo (66.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wailuku

View full rent data for Wailuku, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Wailuku, HI?

Median rent in Wailuku is $3,691 a month. A typical carpenter in Hawaii earns about $65,815 a year, which makes that rent 67.3% 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 Wailuku?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Hawaii (~$65,815/yr) supports up to $1,645 a month in rent. Wailuku's current median rent is $3,691/mo, which is $2,046/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a carpenter in Hawaii works roughly 116.6 hours a month to cover Wailuku's median rent of $3,691.

Where is rent cheaper than Wailuku for a carpenter?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kailua Kona ($3,652/mo), Kihei ($3,642/mo), Kailua ($3,626/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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