Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Wichita, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.1% of gross income.

Wichita rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Wichita median rent
$1,146/mo
Carpenter salary (Kansas)
$54,846/yr
Rent as % of income
25.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,571, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,371/mo in rent. Wichita's median rent of $1,146 leaves roughly $225/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 43.5 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Wichita, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Topeka, KS
$1,145/mo (25.1% of income)
Topeka, KS
$1,142/mo (25% of income)
Junction City, KS
$1,138/mo (24.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wichita

View full rent data for Wichita, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Wichita, KS?

Median rent in Wichita is $1,146 a month. A typical carpenter in Kansas earns about $54,846 a year, which makes that rent 25.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Wichita?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Kansas (~$54,846/yr) supports up to $1,371 a month in rent. Wichita's current median rent is $1,146/mo, which leaves a $225/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Kansas works roughly 43.5 hours a month to cover Wichita's median rent of $1,146.

Where is rent cheaper than Wichita for a carpenter?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Topeka ($1,145/mo), Topeka ($1,142/mo), Junction City ($1,138/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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