Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Albany, NY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

Albany rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Albany median rent
$1,611/mo
Carpenter salary (New York)
$69,472/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,789, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,737/mo in rent. Albany's median rent of $1,611 leaves roughly $126/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 48.2 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 York cities have lower median rent than Albany, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Syracuse, NY
$1,609/mo (27.8% of income)
Canandaigua, NY
$1,605/mo (27.7% of income)
Syracuse, NY
$1,605/mo (27.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albany

View full rent data for Albany, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Albany, NY?

Median rent in Albany is $1,611 a month. A typical carpenter in New York earns about $69,472 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Albany?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in New York (~$69,472/yr) supports up to $1,737 a month in rent. Albany's current median rent is $1,611/mo, which leaves a $126/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a carpenter in New York works roughly 48.2 hours a month to cover Albany's median rent of $1,611.

Where is rent cheaper than Albany for a carpenter?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Syracuse ($1,609/mo), Canandaigua ($1,605/mo), Syracuse ($1,605/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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