Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Cleveland, TN?

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

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

Cleveland median rent
$1,439/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
30.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Cleveland's median rent of $1,439 exceeds that threshold by $37/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53.4 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 Cleveland, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Morristown, TN
$1,434/mo (30.7% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,429/mo (30.6% of income)
Columbia, TN
$1,428/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cleveland

View full rent data for Cleveland, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Cleveland, TN?

Median rent in Cleveland is $1,439 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 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 Cleveland?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Cleveland's current median rent is $1,439/mo, which is $37/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 53.4 hours a month to cover Cleveland's median rent of $1,439.

Where is rent cheaper than Cleveland for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Morristown ($1,434/mo), Morristown ($1,429/mo), Columbia ($1,428/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 Cleveland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.