Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Fairfield, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.8% of gross income.

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

Fairfield median rent
$2,446/mo
Carpenter salary (California)
$71,909/yr
Rent as % of income
40.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,992, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,798/mo in rent. Fairfield's median rent of $2,446 exceeds that threshold by $648/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 70.8 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 Fairfield, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Paramount, CA
$2,445/mo (40.8% of income)
Ontario, CA
$2,445/mo (40.8% of income)
Roseville, CA
$2,445/mo (40.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairfield

View full rent data for Fairfield, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Fairfield, CA?

Median rent in Fairfield is $2,446 a month. A typical carpenter in California earns about $71,909 a year, which makes that rent 40.8% 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 Fairfield?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in California (~$71,909/yr) supports up to $1,798 a month in rent. Fairfield's current median rent is $2,446/mo, which is $648/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a carpenter in California works roughly 70.8 hours a month to cover Fairfield's median rent of $2,446.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairfield for a carpenter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Paramount ($2,445/mo), Ontario ($2,445/mo), Roseville ($2,445/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 Fairfield, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.