Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in San Marcos, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

San Marcos rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

San Marcos median rent
$1,433/mo
Carpenter salary (Texas)
$60,331/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,028, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. San Marcos's median rent of $1,433 leaves roughly $75/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 49.4 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than San Marcos, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Keller, TX
$1,432/mo (28.5% of income)
Pflugerville, TX
$1,432/mo (28.5% of income)
Plano, TX
$1,432/mo (28.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Marcos

View full rent data for San Marcos, TX →

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in San Marcos, TX?

Median rent in San Marcos is $1,433 a month. A typical carpenter in Texas earns about $60,331 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in San Marcos?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in Texas (~$60,331/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. San Marcos's current median rent is $1,433/mo, which leaves a $75/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a carpenter in Texas works roughly 49.4 hours a month to cover San Marcos's median rent of $1,433.

Where is rent cheaper than San Marcos for a carpenter?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Keller ($1,432/mo), Pflugerville ($1,432/mo), Plano ($1,432/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

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