Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Oakland, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.4% of gross income.

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

Oakland median rent
$2,123/mo
Carpenter salary (Tennessee)
$56,065/yr
Rent as % of income
45.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,672, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,402/mo in rent. Oakland's median rent of $2,123 exceeds that threshold by $721/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 78.8 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 Oakland, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Franklin, TN
$2,118/mo (45.3% of income)
Mount Juliet, TN
$2,107/mo (45.1% of income)
Ooltewah, TN
$2,100/mo (44.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oakland

View full rent data for Oakland, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Oakland, TN?

Median rent in Oakland is $2,123 a month. A typical carpenter in Tennessee earns about $56,065 a year, which makes that rent 45.4% 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 Oakland?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Tennessee (~$56,065/yr) supports up to $1,402 a month in rent. Oakland's current median rent is $2,123/mo, which is $721/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a carpenter in Tennessee works roughly 78.8 hours a month to cover Oakland's median rent of $2,123.

Where is rent cheaper than Oakland for a carpenter?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Franklin ($2,118/mo), Mount Juliet ($2,107/mo), Ooltewah ($2,100/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 Oakland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.