Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Sumter, SC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.2% of gross income.

Sumter rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Sumter median rent
$1,530/mo
Carpenter salary (South Carolina)
$53,627/yr
Rent as % of income
34.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,469, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,341/mo in rent. Sumter's median rent of $1,530 exceeds that threshold by $189/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 59.3 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Sumter, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

North Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,528/mo (34.2% of income)
Rock Hill, SC
$1,527/mo (34.2% of income)
Cayce, SC
$1,527/mo (34.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sumter

View full rent data for Sumter, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Sumter, SC?

Median rent in Sumter is $1,530 a month. A typical carpenter in South Carolina earns about $53,627 a year, which makes that rent 34.2% 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 Sumter?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in South Carolina (~$53,627/yr) supports up to $1,341 a month in rent. Sumter's current median rent is $1,530/mo, which is $189/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in South Carolina works roughly 59.3 hours a month to cover Sumter's median rent of $1,530.

Where is rent cheaper than Sumter for a carpenter?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include North Myrtle Beach ($1,528/mo), Rock Hill ($1,527/mo), Cayce ($1,527/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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