Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Joplin, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

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

Joplin median rent
$1,306/mo
Carpenter salary (Missouri)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Joplin's median rent of $1,306 leaves roughly $96/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 48.5 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 Joplin, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Saint Louis, MO
$1,304/mo (27.9% of income)
Hazelwood, MO
$1,303/mo (27.9% of income)
Hazelwood, MO
$1,302/mo (27.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Joplin

View full rent data for Joplin, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Joplin, MO?

Median rent in Joplin is $1,306 a month. A typical carpenter in Missouri earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Joplin?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Missouri (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Joplin's current median rent is $1,306/mo, which leaves a $96/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Missouri works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover Joplin's median rent of $1,306.

Where is rent cheaper than Joplin for a carpenter?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Saint Louis ($1,304/mo), Hazelwood ($1,303/mo), Hazelwood ($1,302/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 Joplin, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.