Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Odessa, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.6% of gross income.

Odessa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Odessa median rent
$1,537/mo
Carpenter salary (Texas)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
30.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Odessa's median rent of $1,537 exceeds that threshold by $29/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 53 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Odessa, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Denton, TX
$1,536/mo (30.6% of income)
Brownsville, TX
$1,536/mo (30.6% of income)
Carrollton, TX
$1,536/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Odessa

View full rent data for Odessa, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Odessa, TX?

Median rent in Odessa is $1,537 a month. A typical carpenter in Texas earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 30.6% 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 Odessa?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Texas (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Odessa's current median rent is $1,537/mo, which is $29/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Texas works roughly 53 hours a month to cover Odessa's median rent of $1,537.

Where is rent cheaper than Odessa for a carpenter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Denton ($1,536/mo), Brownsville ($1,536/mo), Carrollton ($1,536/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Texas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Odessa, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.