Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Oakdale, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.4% of gross income.

Oakdale rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Oakdale median rent
$2,120/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
54.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Oakdale's median rent of $2,120 exceeds that threshold by $951/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 94.3 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 Oakdale, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Palm Springs, CA
$2,119/mo (54.4% of income)
Ramona, CA
$2,118/mo (54.4% of income)
Santa Clarita, CA
$2,117/mo (54.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oakdale

View full rent data for Oakdale, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Oakdale, CA?

Median rent in Oakdale is $2,120 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 54.4% 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 Oakdale?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Oakdale's current median rent is $2,120/mo, which is $951/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 94.3 hours a month to cover Oakdale's median rent of $2,120.

Where is rent cheaper than Oakdale for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Palm Springs ($2,119/mo), Ramona ($2,118/mo), Santa Clarita ($2,117/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 Oakdale, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.