Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Fairbanks, AK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.7% of gross income.

Fairbanks rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Fairbanks median rent
$1,762/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Alaska)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
47.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Fairbanks's median rent of $1,762 exceeds that threshold by $653/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 82.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alaska cities have lower median rent than Fairbanks, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Wasilla, AK
$1,760/mo (47.6% of income)
Wasilla, AK
$1,730/mo (46.8% of income)
Anchorage, AK
$1,730/mo (46.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairbanks

View full rent data for Fairbanks, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Fairbanks, AK?

Median rent in Fairbanks is $1,762 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Alaska earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 47.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Fairbanks?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Alaska (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Fairbanks's current median rent is $1,762/mo, which is $653/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Fairbanks?

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Alaska works roughly 82.6 hours a month to cover Fairbanks's median rent of $1,762.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairbanks for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Wasilla ($1,760/mo), Wasilla ($1,730/mo), Anchorage ($1,730/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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