Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Pico Rivera, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.2% of gross income.

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

Pico Rivera median rent
$2,169/mo
Carpenter salary (California)
$71,909/yr
Rent as % of income
36.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,992, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,798/mo in rent. Pico Rivera's median rent of $2,169 exceeds that threshold by $371/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 62.7 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 California cities have lower median rent than Pico Rivera, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

East Los Angeles, CA
$2,168/mo (36.2% of income)
Atascadero, CA
$2,167/mo (36.2% of income)
Woodland, CA
$2,167/mo (36.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pico Rivera

View full rent data for Pico Rivera, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Pico Rivera, CA?

Median rent in Pico Rivera is $2,169 a month. A typical carpenter in California earns about $71,909 a year, which makes that rent 36.2% 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 Pico Rivera?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in California (~$71,909/yr) supports up to $1,798 a month in rent. Pico Rivera's current median rent is $2,169/mo, which is $371/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a carpenter in California works roughly 62.7 hours a month to cover Pico Rivera's median rent of $2,169.

Where is rent cheaper than Pico Rivera for a carpenter?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include East Los Angeles ($2,168/mo), Atascadero ($2,167/mo), Woodland ($2,167/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 Pico Rivera, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.