Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Fort Dodge, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18% of gross income.
Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Dodge
View full rent data for Fort Dodge, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Fort Dodge, IA?
Median rent in Fort Dodge is $843 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 18% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Fort Dodge?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Fort Dodge's current median rent is $843/mo, which leaves a $559/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Fort Dodge?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 31.3 hours a month to cover Fort Dodge's median rent of $843.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Dodge for a carpenter?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Waterloo ($842/mo), Waterloo ($840/mo), Ames ($839/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.