Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Springfield, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35% of gross income.

Springfield rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Springfield median rent
$1,178/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
35%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $1,178 exceeds that threshold by $168/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 60.6 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Kankakee, IL
$1,176/mo (34.9% of income)
Rockford, IL
$1,176/mo (34.9% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,175/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Springfield, IL?

Median rent in Springfield is $1,178 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 35% 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 Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,178/mo, which is $168/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 60.6 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,178.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Kankakee ($1,176/mo), Rockford ($1,176/mo), Shiloh ($1,175/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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