Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Lawndale, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.9% of gross income.

Lawndale rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Lawndale median rent
$2,692/mo
Carpenter salary (California)
$71,909/yr
Rent as % of income
44.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,992, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,798/mo in rent. Lawndale's median rent of $2,692 exceeds that threshold by $894/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 77.9 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 Lawndale, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Morro Bay, CA
$2,691/mo (44.9% of income)
Burbank, CA
$2,691/mo (44.9% of income)
Alameda, CA
$2,691/mo (44.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lawndale

View full rent data for Lawndale, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Lawndale, CA?

Median rent in Lawndale is $2,692 a month. A typical carpenter in California earns about $71,909 a year, which makes that rent 44.9% 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 Lawndale?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in California (~$71,909/yr) supports up to $1,798 a month in rent. Lawndale's current median rent is $2,692/mo, which is $894/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a carpenter in California works roughly 77.9 hours a month to cover Lawndale's median rent of $2,692.

Where is rent cheaper than Lawndale for a carpenter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Morro Bay ($2,691/mo), Burbank ($2,691/mo), Alameda ($2,691/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 Lawndale, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.