Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Shreveport, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.5% of gross income.

Shreveport rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Shreveport median rent
$1,170/mo
Carpenter salary (Louisiana)
$53,018/yr
Rent as % of income
26.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,418, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,325/mo in rent. Shreveport's median rent of $1,170 leaves roughly $155/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 45.9 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Shreveport, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

New Iberia, LA
$1,164/mo (26.3% of income)
West Monroe, LA
$1,161/mo (26.3% of income)
Baker, LA
$1,160/mo (26.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Shreveport

View full rent data for Shreveport, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Shreveport, LA?

Median rent in Shreveport is $1,170 a month. A typical carpenter in Louisiana earns about $53,018 a year, which makes that rent 26.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Shreveport?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Louisiana (~$53,018/yr) supports up to $1,325 a month in rent. Shreveport's current median rent is $1,170/mo, which leaves a $155/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a carpenter in Louisiana works roughly 45.9 hours a month to cover Shreveport's median rent of $1,170.

Where is rent cheaper than Shreveport for a carpenter?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include New Iberia ($1,164/mo), West Monroe ($1,161/mo), Baker ($1,160/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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