Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 83.5% of gross income.

Carmel-by-the-Sea rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Carmel-by-the-Sea median rent
$5,742/mo
Electrician salary (California)
$82,482/yr
Rent as % of income
83.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,874, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,062/mo in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $5,742 exceeds that threshold by $3,680/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 144.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an electrician salary

Electrician pay is competitive with many four-year-degree occupations and covers comfortable rent across most US metros. Union journeymen in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean once overtime and benefits are counted, which expands affordability further. At the national-average electrician salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,748 a month in rent. The per-city pages show where rent stays in range and where it begins to pinch.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Carmel-by-the-Sea, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Los Altos, CA
$5,734/mo (83.4% of income)
Saratoga, CA
$5,728/mo (83.3% of income)
Saratoga, CA
$5,723/mo (83.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea

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Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Median rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $5,742 a month. A typical electrician in California earns about $82,482 a year, which makes that rent 83.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in California (~$82,482/yr) supports up to $2,062 a month in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's current median rent is $5,742/mo, which is $3,680/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $40 an hour, an electrician in California works roughly 144.8 hours a month to cover Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $5,742.

Where is rent cheaper than Carmel-by-the-Sea for an electrician?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Los Altos ($5,734/mo), Saratoga ($5,728/mo), Saratoga ($5,723/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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