Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Pella, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.2% of gross income.

Pella rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Pella median rent
$1,085/mo
Carpenter salary (Iowa)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
23.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Pella's median rent of $1,085 leaves roughly $317/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 40.3 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Pella, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Ames, IA
$1,084/mo (23.2% of income)
Dubuque, IA
$1,084/mo (23.2% of income)
Dubuque, IA
$1,082/mo (23.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pella

View full rent data for Pella, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Pella, IA?

Median rent in Pella is $1,085 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 23.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Pella?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Pella's current median rent is $1,085/mo, which leaves a $317/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 40.3 hours a month to cover Pella's median rent of $1,085.

Where is rent cheaper than Pella for a carpenter?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Ames ($1,084/mo), Dubuque ($1,084/mo), Dubuque ($1,082/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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