Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Saint Joseph, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.8% of gross income.

Saint Joseph rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Saint Joseph median rent
$1,056/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Missouri)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
34.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Saint Joseph's median rent of $1,056 exceeds that threshold by $145/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 60.3 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Saint Joseph, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Saint Robert, MO
$1,051/mo (34.6% of income)
Waynesville, MO
$1,050/mo (34.6% of income)
Warrensburg, MO
$1,049/mo (34.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Joseph

View full rent data for Saint Joseph, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Saint Joseph, MO?

Median rent in Saint Joseph is $1,056 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Missouri earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 34.8% 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 Saint Joseph?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Missouri (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Saint Joseph's current median rent is $1,056/mo, which is $145/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Missouri works roughly 60.3 hours a month to cover Saint Joseph's median rent of $1,056.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Joseph for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Saint Robert ($1,051/mo), Waynesville ($1,050/mo), Warrensburg ($1,049/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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