Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Apex, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.3% of gross income.

Apex rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Apex median rent
$2,017/mo
Carpenter salary (North Carolina)
$57,284/yr
Rent as % of income
42.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,432/mo in rent. Apex's median rent of $2,017 exceeds that threshold by $585/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 73.2 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Apex, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Indian Trail, NC
$2,016/mo (42.2% of income)
Pinehurst, NC
$2,015/mo (42.2% of income)
Indian Trail, NC
$2,013/mo (42.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Apex

View full rent data for Apex, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Apex, NC?

Median rent in Apex is $2,017 a month. A typical carpenter in North Carolina earns about $57,284 a year, which makes that rent 42.3% 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 Apex?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in North Carolina (~$57,284/yr) supports up to $1,432 a month in rent. Apex's current median rent is $2,017/mo, which is $585/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in North Carolina works roughly 73.2 hours a month to cover Apex's median rent of $2,017.

Where is rent cheaper than Apex for a carpenter?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Indian Trail ($2,016/mo), Pinehurst ($2,015/mo), Indian Trail ($2,013/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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