Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Ames, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.1% of gross income.
Ames rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Ames, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ames
View full rent data for Ames, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Ames, IA?
Median rent in Ames is $1,125 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 24.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Ames?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Ames's current median rent is $1,125/mo, which leaves a $277/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Ames?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 41.7 hours a month to cover Ames's median rent of $1,125.
Where is rent cheaper than Ames for a carpenter?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Sioux City ($1,123/mo), Des Moines ($1,123/mo), Dubuque ($1,123/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.