Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Los Alamos, NM?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.9% of gross income.

Los Alamos rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Los Alamos median rent
$2,645/mo
Carpenter salary (New Mexico)
$54,846/yr
Rent as % of income
57.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,571, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,371/mo in rent. Los Alamos's median rent of $2,645 exceeds that threshold by $1,274/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 100.3 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 Mexico cities have lower median rent than Los Alamos, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Artesia, NM
$2,631/mo (57.6% of income)
Artesia, NM
$2,583/mo (56.5% of income)
Artesia, NM
$2,573/mo (56.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Los Alamos

View full rent data for Los Alamos, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Los Alamos, NM?

Median rent in Los Alamos is $2,645 a month. A typical carpenter in New Mexico earns about $54,846 a year, which makes that rent 57.9% 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 Los Alamos?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in New Mexico (~$54,846/yr) supports up to $1,371 a month in rent. Los Alamos's current median rent is $2,645/mo, which is $1,274/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a carpenter in New Mexico works roughly 100.3 hours a month to cover Los Alamos's median rent of $2,645.

Where is rent cheaper than Los Alamos for a carpenter?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Artesia ($2,631/mo), Artesia ($2,583/mo), Artesia ($2,573/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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