Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Washington, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.6% of gross income.

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

Washington median rent
$1,324/mo
Carpenter salary (Illinois)
$62,159/yr
Rent as % of income
25.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,180, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,554/mo in rent. Washington's median rent of $1,324 leaves roughly $230/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 44.3 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 Washington, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Cicero, IL
$1,322/mo (25.5% of income)
Cicero, IL
$1,322/mo (25.5% of income)
Berwyn, IL
$1,321/mo (25.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Washington

View full rent data for Washington, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Washington, IL?

Median rent in Washington is $1,324 a month. A typical carpenter in Illinois earns about $62,159 a year, which makes that rent 25.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Washington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Illinois (~$62,159/yr) supports up to $1,554 a month in rent. Washington's current median rent is $1,324/mo, which leaves a $230/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Illinois works roughly 44.3 hours a month to cover Washington's median rent of $1,324.

Where is rent cheaper than Washington for a carpenter?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Cicero ($1,322/mo), Cicero ($1,322/mo), Berwyn ($1,321/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 Washington, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.