Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Brentwood, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 87.8% of gross income.

Brentwood rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Brentwood median rent
$3,420/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
87.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Brentwood's median rent of $3,420 exceeds that threshold by $2,251/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 152.2 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 California cities have lower median rent than Brentwood, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

La Quinta, CA
$3,419/mo (87.8% of income)
Santa Cruz, CA
$3,418/mo (87.8% of income)
Redondo Beach, CA
$3,417/mo (87.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brentwood

View full rent data for Brentwood, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Brentwood, CA?

Median rent in Brentwood is $3,420 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 87.8% 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 Brentwood?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Brentwood's current median rent is $3,420/mo, which is $2,251/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 152.2 hours a month to cover Brentwood's median rent of $3,420.

Where is rent cheaper than Brentwood for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include La Quinta ($3,419/mo), Santa Cruz ($3,418/mo), Redondo Beach ($3,417/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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