Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Champaign, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Champaign rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Champaign median rent
$1,466/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Champaign's median rent of $1,466 leaves roughly $88/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 49.1 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 Champaign, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Blue Island, IL
$1,465/mo (28.3% of income)
Swansea, IL
$1,464/mo (28.3% of income)
Woodstock, IL
$1,464/mo (28.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Champaign

View full rent data for Champaign, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Champaign, IL?

Median rent in Champaign is $1,466 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Champaign?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Champaign's current median rent is $1,466/mo, which leaves a $88/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 49.1 hours a month to cover Champaign's median rent of $1,466.

Where is rent cheaper than Champaign for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Blue Island ($1,465/mo), Swansea ($1,464/mo), Woodstock ($1,464/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 Champaign, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.