Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.5% of gross income.

Tuscaloosa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Tuscaloosa median rent
$1,433/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Alabama)
$34,065/yr
Rent as % of income
50.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,839, and the 30% rule supports up to $852/mo in rent. Tuscaloosa's median rent of $1,433 exceeds that threshold by $581/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 87.5 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 Alabama cities have lower median rent than Tuscaloosa, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Trussville, AL
$1,430/mo (50.4% of income)
Trussville, AL
$1,430/mo (50.4% of income)
Gulf Shores, AL
$1,429/mo (50.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tuscaloosa

View full rent data for Tuscaloosa, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Tuscaloosa, AL?

Median rent in Tuscaloosa is $1,433 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Alabama earns about $34,065 a year, which makes that rent 50.5% 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 Tuscaloosa?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Alabama (~$34,065/yr) supports up to $852 a month in rent. Tuscaloosa's current median rent is $1,433/mo, which is $581/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a nursing assistant in Alabama works roughly 87.5 hours a month to cover Tuscaloosa's median rent of $1,433.

Where is rent cheaper than Tuscaloosa for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Trussville ($1,430/mo), Trussville ($1,430/mo), Gulf Shores ($1,429/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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