Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Jackson, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.1% of gross income.

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

Jackson median rent
$1,451/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
31.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,451 exceeds that threshold by $49/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53.8 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 Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Portland, TN
$1,450/mo (31% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,450/mo (31% of income)
Jonesborough, TN
$1,445/mo (30.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Jackson, TN?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,451 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 31.1% 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 Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,451/mo, which is $49/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 53.8 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,451.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Portland ($1,450/mo), Jonesborough ($1,450/mo), Jonesborough ($1,445/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 Jackson, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.