Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.6% of gross income.

Arlington Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Arlington Heights median rent
$1,949/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
37.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,949 exceeds that threshold by $395/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 65.2 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Arlington Heights, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Hoffman Estates, IL
$1,946/mo (37.6% of income)
Saint Charles, IL
$1,945/mo (37.5% of income)
Palatine, IL
$1,940/mo (37.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington Heights

View full rent data for Arlington Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Median rent in Arlington Heights is $1,949 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 37.6% 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 Arlington Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Arlington Heights's current median rent is $1,949/mo, which is $395/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 65.2 hours a month to cover Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,949.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington Heights for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Hoffman Estates ($1,946/mo), Saint Charles ($1,945/mo), Palatine ($1,940/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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