Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Pekin, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.3% of gross income.

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

Pekin median rent
$843/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
16.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Pekin's median rent of $843 leaves roughly $711/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 28.2 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 Pekin, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Rantoul, IL
$841/mo (16.2% of income)
Rantoul, IL
$841/mo (16.2% of income)
Danville, IL
$833/mo (16.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pekin

View full rent data for Pekin, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Pekin, IL?

Median rent in Pekin is $843 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 16.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Pekin?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Pekin's current median rent is $843/mo, which leaves a $711/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 28.2 hours a month to cover Pekin's median rent of $843.

Where is rent cheaper than Pekin for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rantoul ($841/mo), Rantoul ($841/mo), Danville ($833/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 Pekin, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.