Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Arlington, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.1% of gross income.

Arlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Arlington median rent
$2,480/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
53.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Arlington's median rent of $2,480 exceeds that threshold by $1,078/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 92 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Germantown, TN
$2,415/mo (51.7% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,300/mo (49.2% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,290/mo (49% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington

View full rent data for Arlington, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Arlington, TN?

Median rent in Arlington is $2,480 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 53.1% 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 Arlington?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $2,480/mo, which is $1,078/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 92 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $2,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Germantown ($2,415/mo), Germantown ($2,300/mo), Germantown ($2,290/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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