Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Jefferson City, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

Jefferson City rent: March 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Jefferson City median rent
$1,152/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Jefferson City's median rent of $1,152 leaves roughly $250/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 42.7 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 Jefferson City, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Athens, TN
$1,135/mo (24.3% of income)
Maryville, TN
$1,123/mo (24% of income)
Greeneville, TN
$1,117/mo (23.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jefferson City

View full rent data for Jefferson City, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Jefferson City, TN?

Median rent in Jefferson City is $1,152 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Jefferson City?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Jefferson City's current median rent is $1,152/mo, which leaves a $250/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover Jefferson City's median rent of $1,152.

Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson City for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,135/mo), Maryville ($1,123/mo), Greeneville ($1,117/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 Jefferson City, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.