Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Indianapolis, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.

Indianapolis rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Indianapolis median rent
$1,411/mo
Carpenter salary (Indiana)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
30.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Indianapolis's median rent of $1,411 exceeds that threshold by $9/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 52.3 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Indianapolis, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Portage, IN
$1,410/mo (30.2% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,409/mo (30.2% of income)
Portage, IN
$1,406/mo (30.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Indianapolis

View full rent data for Indianapolis, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?

Median rent in Indianapolis is $1,411 a month. A typical carpenter in Indiana earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Indianapolis?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Indiana (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Indianapolis's current median rent is $1,411/mo, which is $9/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Indiana works roughly 52.3 hours a month to cover Indianapolis's median rent of $1,411.

Where is rent cheaper than Indianapolis for a carpenter?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Portage ($1,410/mo), Hammond ($1,409/mo), Portage ($1,406/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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