Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Jackson, MS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.9% of gross income.

Jackson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Jackson median rent
$1,270/mo
Carpenter salary (Mississippi)
$49,361/yr
Rent as % of income
30.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,113, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,234/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,270 exceeds that threshold by $36/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53.5 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Tupelo, MS
$1,264/mo (30.7% of income)
Tupelo, MS
$1,251/mo (30.4% of income)
Moss Point, MS
$1,250/mo (30.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Jackson, MS?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,270 a month. A typical carpenter in Mississippi earns about $49,361 a year, which makes that rent 30.9% 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 Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Mississippi (~$49,361/yr) supports up to $1,234 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which is $36/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a carpenter in Mississippi works roughly 53.5 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a carpenter?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Tupelo ($1,264/mo), Tupelo ($1,251/mo), Moss Point ($1,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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