Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.2% of gross income.
Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea
View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical carpenter in Minnesota earns about $63,378 a year, which makes that rent 18.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Albert Lea?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Minnesota (~$63,378/yr) supports up to $1,584 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $624/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Albert Lea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Minnesota works roughly 31.5 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.
Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a carpenter?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.