Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Pella, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.3% of gross income.
Pella rent: July 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 Pella, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
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 $1,135 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 24.3% 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 $1,135/mo, which leaves a $267/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 42.1 hours a month to cover Pella's median rent of $1,135.
Where is rent cheaper than Pella for a carpenter?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Ames ($1,134/mo), Des Moines ($1,133/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,131/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.