Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Waterloo, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.2% of gross income.
Waterloo 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 Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waterloo
View full rent data for Waterloo, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Waterloo, IA?
Median rent in Waterloo is $898 a month. A typical carpenter in Iowa earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 19.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Waterloo?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Iowa (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $898/mo, which leaves a $504/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Waterloo?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Iowa works roughly 33.3 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $898.
Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a carpenter?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($897/mo), Marshalltown ($893/mo), Newton ($887/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.