Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Paducah, KY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

Paducah rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Paducah median rent
$1,285/mo
Carpenter salary (Kentucky)
$53,627/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,469, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,341/mo in rent. Paducah's median rent of $1,285 leaves roughly $56/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 49.8 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Paducah, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Erlanger, KY
$1,284/mo (28.7% of income)
Bowling Green, KY
$1,284/mo (28.7% of income)
Elizabethtown, KY
$1,283/mo (28.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Paducah

View full rent data for Paducah, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Paducah, KY?

Median rent in Paducah is $1,285 a month. A typical carpenter in Kentucky earns about $53,627 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Paducah?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Kentucky (~$53,627/yr) supports up to $1,341 a month in rent. Paducah's current median rent is $1,285/mo, which leaves a $56/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Kentucky works roughly 49.8 hours a month to cover Paducah's median rent of $1,285.

Where is rent cheaper than Paducah for a carpenter?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Erlanger ($1,284/mo), Bowling Green ($1,284/mo), Elizabethtown ($1,283/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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