Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Memphis, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.
Memphis rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Memphis, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Memphis
View full rent data for Memphis, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a carpenter afford rent in Memphis, TN?
Median rent in Memphis is $1,262 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a carpenter afford in Memphis?
Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Memphis's current median rent is $1,262/mo, which leaves a $140/mo buffer.
How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Memphis?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Memphis's median rent of $1,262.
Where is rent cheaper than Memphis for a carpenter?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Red Bank ($1,261/mo), Red Bank ($1,259/mo), Red Bank ($1,257/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.