Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Meridian, ID?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.7% of gross income.

Meridian rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Meridian median rent
$2,065/mo
Carpenter salary (Idaho)
$54,237/yr
Rent as % of income
45.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Meridian's median rent of $2,065 exceeds that threshold by $709/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 79.2 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Eagle, ID
$2,052/mo (45.4% of income)
Kimberly, ID
$2,050/mo (45.4% of income)
Eagle, ID
$2,045/mo (45.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Meridian

View full rent data for Meridian, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Meridian, ID?

Median rent in Meridian is $2,065 a month. A typical carpenter in Idaho earns about $54,237 a year, which makes that rent 45.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Meridian?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Idaho (~$54,237/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $2,065/mo, which is $709/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Idaho works roughly 79.2 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $2,065.

Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a carpenter?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($2,052/mo), Kimberly ($2,050/mo), Eagle ($2,045/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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