Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Brookings, SD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.6% of gross income.
Brookings rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).
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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Brookings, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Brookings
View full rent data for Brookings, SD →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Brookings, SD?
Median rent in Brookings is $1,100 a month. A typical carpenter in South Dakota earns about $53,627 a year, which makes that rent 24.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Brookings?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in South Dakota (~$53,627/yr) supports up to $1,341 a month in rent. Brookings's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which leaves a $241/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Brookings?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in South Dakota works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover Brookings's median rent of $1,100.
Where is rent cheaper than Brookings for a carpenter?
Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,049/mo), Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.