Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Tulsa, OK?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

Tulsa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Tulsa median rent
$1,272/mo
Carpenter salary (Oklahoma)
$53,627/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,469, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,341/mo in rent. Tulsa's median rent of $1,272 leaves roughly $69/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 49.3 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Tulsa, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Norman, OK
$1,271/mo (28.4% of income)
Stillwater, OK
$1,271/mo (28.4% of income)
El Reno, OK
$1,271/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tulsa

View full rent data for Tulsa, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Tulsa, OK?

Median rent in Tulsa is $1,272 a month. A typical carpenter in Oklahoma earns about $53,627 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 Tulsa?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Oklahoma (~$53,627/yr) supports up to $1,341 a month in rent. Tulsa's current median rent is $1,272/mo, which leaves a $69/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in Oklahoma works roughly 49.3 hours a month to cover Tulsa's median rent of $1,272.

Where is rent cheaper than Tulsa for a carpenter?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Norman ($1,271/mo), Stillwater ($1,271/mo), El Reno ($1,271/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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