Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Onalaska, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Onalaska rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Onalaska median rent
$1,412/mo
Carpenter salary (Wisconsin)
$57,893/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,824, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,447/mo in rent. Onalaska's median rent of $1,412 leaves roughly $35/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 50.7 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Onalaska, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Waukesha, WI
$1,411/mo (29.2% of income)
West Allis, WI
$1,408/mo (29.2% of income)
Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,405/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Onalaska

View full rent data for Onalaska, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Onalaska, WI?

Median rent in Onalaska is $1,412 a month. A typical carpenter in Wisconsin earns about $57,893 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Onalaska?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Wisconsin (~$57,893/yr) supports up to $1,447 a month in rent. Onalaska's current median rent is $1,412/mo, which leaves a $35/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in Wisconsin works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover Onalaska's median rent of $1,412.

Where is rent cheaper than Onalaska for a carpenter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Waukesha ($1,411/mo), West Allis ($1,408/mo), Menomonee Falls ($1,405/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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