Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Lincoln, NE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

Lincoln rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Lincoln median rent
$1,345/mo
Carpenter salary (Nebraska)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,417/mo in rent. Lincoln's median rent of $1,345 leaves roughly $72/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 49.4 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Lincoln, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

La Vista, NE
$1,341/mo (28.4% of income)
Bellevue, NE
$1,340/mo (28.4% of income)
Bellevue, NE
$1,339/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lincoln

View full rent data for Lincoln, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Lincoln, NE?

Median rent in Lincoln is $1,345 a month. A typical carpenter in Nebraska earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Lincoln?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Nebraska (~$56,674/yr) supports up to $1,417 a month in rent. Lincoln's current median rent is $1,345/mo, which leaves a $72/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Nebraska works roughly 49.4 hours a month to cover Lincoln's median rent of $1,345.

Where is rent cheaper than Lincoln for a carpenter?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include La Vista ($1,341/mo), Bellevue ($1,340/mo), Bellevue ($1,339/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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