Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Omaha, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.8% of gross income.

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

Omaha median rent
$1,453/mo
Carpenter salary (Nebraska)
$56,674/yr
Rent as % of income
30.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,417/mo in rent. Omaha's median rent of $1,453 exceeds that threshold by $36/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53.3 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 Omaha, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Kearney, NE
$1,451/mo (30.7% of income)
Columbus, NE
$1,447/mo (30.6% of income)
Kearney, NE
$1,445/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Omaha

View full rent data for Omaha, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Omaha, NE?

Median rent in Omaha is $1,453 a month. A typical carpenter in Nebraska earns about $56,674 a year, which makes that rent 30.8% 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 Omaha?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Nebraska (~$56,674/yr) supports up to $1,417 a month in rent. Omaha's current median rent is $1,453/mo, which is $36/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Nebraska works roughly 53.3 hours a month to cover Omaha's median rent of $1,453.

Where is rent cheaper than Omaha for a carpenter?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Kearney ($1,451/mo), Columbus ($1,447/mo), Kearney ($1,445/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 Omaha, NE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.