Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Sun Prairie, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.4% of gross income.

Sun Prairie rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Sun Prairie median rent
$1,659/mo
Carpenter salary (Wisconsin)
$57,893/yr
Rent as % of income
34.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,824, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,447/mo in rent. Sun Prairie's median rent of $1,659 exceeds that threshold by $212/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 59.6 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 Sun Prairie, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Saint Francis, WI
$1,657/mo (34.3% of income)
Saukville, WI
$1,657/mo (34.3% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,656/mo (34.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sun Prairie

View full rent data for Sun Prairie, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Sun Prairie, WI?

Median rent in Sun Prairie is $1,659 a month. A typical carpenter in Wisconsin earns about $57,893 a year, which makes that rent 34.4% 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 Sun Prairie?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Wisconsin (~$57,893/yr) supports up to $1,447 a month in rent. Sun Prairie's current median rent is $1,659/mo, which is $212/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in Wisconsin works roughly 59.6 hours a month to cover Sun Prairie's median rent of $1,659.

Where is rent cheaper than Sun Prairie for a carpenter?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Saint Francis ($1,657/mo), Saukville ($1,657/mo), Madison ($1,656/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 Sun Prairie, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.