Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Selma, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.

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

Selma median rent
$1,314/mo
Carpenter salary (Texas)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
26.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Selma's median rent of $1,314 leaves roughly $194/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 45.3 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 Selma, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Lufkin, TX
$1,313/mo (26.1% of income)
Port Arthur, TX
$1,312/mo (26.1% of income)
Texarkana, TX
$1,311/mo (26.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Selma

View full rent data for Selma, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Selma, TX?

Median rent in Selma is $1,314 a month. A typical carpenter in Texas earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Selma?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Texas (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Selma's current median rent is $1,314/mo, which leaves a $194/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Texas works roughly 45.3 hours a month to cover Selma's median rent of $1,314.

Where is rent cheaper than Selma for a carpenter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Lufkin ($1,313/mo), Port Arthur ($1,312/mo), Texarkana ($1,311/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 Selma, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.