Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Jefferson City, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.5% of gross income.

Jefferson City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Jefferson City median rent
$1,098/mo
Carpenter salary (Missouri)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
23.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Jefferson City's median rent of $1,098 leaves roughly $304/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 40.7 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Jefferson City, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,095/mo (23.4% of income)
Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,093/mo (23.4% of income)
Saint Charles, MO
$1,091/mo (23.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jefferson City

View full rent data for Jefferson City, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Jefferson City, MO?

Median rent in Jefferson City is $1,098 a month. A typical carpenter in Missouri earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 23.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Jefferson City?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Missouri (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Jefferson City's current median rent is $1,098/mo, which leaves a $304/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Missouri works roughly 40.7 hours a month to cover Jefferson City's median rent of $1,098.

Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson City for a carpenter?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Cape Girardeau ($1,095/mo), Cape Girardeau ($1,093/mo), Saint Charles ($1,091/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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