Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Augusta, ME?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.5% of gross income.

Augusta rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Augusta median rent
$1,533/mo
Carpenter salary (Maine)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
32.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,417/mo in rent. Augusta's median rent of $1,533 exceeds that threshold by $116/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 56.3 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Augusta, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Old Town, ME
$1,524/mo (32.3% of income)
Bangor, ME
$1,518/mo (32.1% of income)
Auburn, ME
$1,503/mo (31.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Augusta

View full rent data for Augusta, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Augusta, ME?

Median rent in Augusta is $1,533 a month. A typical carpenter in Maine earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 32.5% 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 Augusta?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Maine (~$56,674/yr) supports up to $1,417 a month in rent. Augusta's current median rent is $1,533/mo, which is $116/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Maine works roughly 56.3 hours a month to cover Augusta's median rent of $1,533.

Where is rent cheaper than Augusta for a carpenter?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Old Town ($1,524/mo), Bangor ($1,518/mo), Auburn ($1,503/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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