Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Bozeman, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.4% of gross income.

Bozeman rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Bozeman median rent
$2,164/mo
Carpenter salary (Montana)
$53,627/yr
Rent as % of income
48.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,469, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,341/mo in rent. Bozeman's median rent of $2,164 exceeds that threshold by $823/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 83.9 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Bozeman, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Belgrade, MT
$2,152/mo (48.2% of income)
Belgrade, MT
$2,150/mo (48.1% of income)
Belgrade, MT
$2,132/mo (47.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bozeman

View full rent data for Bozeman, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Bozeman, MT?

Median rent in Bozeman is $2,164 a month. A typical carpenter in Montana earns about $53,627 a year, which makes that rent 48.4% 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 Bozeman?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Montana (~$53,627/yr) supports up to $1,341 a month in rent. Bozeman's current median rent is $2,164/mo, which is $823/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Montana works roughly 83.9 hours a month to cover Bozeman's median rent of $2,164.

Where is rent cheaper than Bozeman for a carpenter?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Belgrade ($2,152/mo), Belgrade ($2,150/mo), Belgrade ($2,132/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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