Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Del Mar, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 131.3% of gross income.

Del Mar rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Del Mar median rent
$7,867/mo
Carpenter salary (California)
$71,909/yr
Rent as % of income
131.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,992, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,798/mo in rent. Del Mar's median rent of $7,867 exceeds that threshold by $6,069/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 227.6 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 California cities have lower median rent than Del Mar, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Los Altos, CA
$7,513/mo (125.4% of income)
San Marino, CA
$7,489/mo (125% of income)
Topanga, CA
$7,150/mo (119.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Del Mar

View full rent data for Del Mar, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Del Mar, CA?

Median rent in Del Mar is $7,867 a month. A typical carpenter in California earns about $71,909 a year, which makes that rent 131.3% 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 Del Mar?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in California (~$71,909/yr) supports up to $1,798 a month in rent. Del Mar's current median rent is $7,867/mo, which is $6,069/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a carpenter in California works roughly 227.6 hours a month to cover Del Mar's median rent of $7,867.

Where is rent cheaper than Del Mar for a carpenter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Altos ($7,513/mo), San Marino ($7,489/mo), Topanga ($7,150/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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