Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24% of gross income.
Des Moines 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 Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,121 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 24% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $281/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 41.6 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,121.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for a carpenter?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($1,119/mo), Sioux City ($1,117/mo), Marion ($1,116/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.