Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Topeka, KS?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.1% of gross income.
Topeka rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).
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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Topeka, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Topeka
View full rent data for Topeka, KS →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Topeka, KS?
Median rent in Topeka is $1,283 a month. A typical carpenter in Kansas earns about $54,846 a year, which makes that rent 28.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Topeka?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Kansas (~$54,846/yr) supports up to $1,371 a month in rent. Topeka's current median rent is $1,283/mo, which leaves a $88/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Topeka?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Kansas works roughly 48.7 hours a month to cover Topeka's median rent of $1,283.
Where is rent cheaper than Topeka for a carpenter?
Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Kansas City ($1,274/mo), Leavenworth ($1,273/mo), Overland Park ($1,269/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.