Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Oildale, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37% of gross income.

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

Oildale median rent
$1,441/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (California)
$46,740/yr
Rent as % of income
37%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,895, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,169/mo in rent. Oildale's median rent of $1,441 exceeds that threshold by $272/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 64.1 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 Oildale, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Oroville, CA
$1,438/mo (36.9% of income)
Twentynine Palms, CA
$1,436/mo (36.9% of income)
Eureka, CA
$1,436/mo (36.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oildale

View full rent data for Oildale, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Oildale, CA?

Median rent in Oildale is $1,441 a month. A typical nursing assistant in California earns about $46,740 a year, which makes that rent 37% 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 Oildale?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in California (~$46,740/yr) supports up to $1,169 a month in rent. Oildale's current median rent is $1,441/mo, which is $272/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a nursing assistant in California works roughly 64.1 hours a month to cover Oildale's median rent of $1,441.

Where is rent cheaper than Oildale for a nursing assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Oroville ($1,438/mo), Twentynine Palms ($1,436/mo), Eureka ($1,436/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 Oildale, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.