Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Austin, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.7% of gross income.

Austin rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Austin median rent
$1,041/mo
Carpenter salary (Minnesota)
$63,378/yr
Rent as % of income
19.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,282, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,584/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $1,041 leaves roughly $543/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 34.2 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Waseca, MN
$990/mo (18.7% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$963/mo (18.2% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$960/mo (18.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Austin, MN?

Median rent in Austin is $1,041 a month. A typical carpenter in Minnesota earns about $63,378 a year, which makes that rent 19.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Minnesota (~$63,378/yr) supports up to $1,584 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,041/mo, which leaves a $543/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a carpenter in Minnesota works roughly 34.2 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,041.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a carpenter?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Waseca ($990/mo), Albert Lea ($963/mo), Albert Lea ($960/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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