Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Passaic, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.5% of gross income.

Passaic rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Passaic median rent
$2,077/mo
Carpenter salary (New Jersey)
$68,253/yr
Rent as % of income
36.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,688, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,706/mo in rent. Passaic's median rent of $2,077 exceeds that threshold by $371/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 63.3 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Passaic, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Voorhees Township, NJ
$2,076/mo (36.5% of income)
North Bergen Township, NJ
$2,076/mo (36.5% of income)
Burlington Township, NJ
$2,075/mo (36.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Passaic

View full rent data for Passaic, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Passaic, NJ?

Median rent in Passaic is $2,077 a month. A typical carpenter in New Jersey earns about $68,253 a year, which makes that rent 36.5% 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 Passaic?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in New Jersey (~$68,253/yr) supports up to $1,706 a month in rent. Passaic's current median rent is $2,077/mo, which is $371/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a carpenter in New Jersey works roughly 63.3 hours a month to cover Passaic's median rent of $2,077.

Where is rent cheaper than Passaic for a carpenter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Voorhees Township ($2,076/mo), North Bergen Township ($2,076/mo), Burlington Township ($2,075/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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