Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Washington, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.5% of gross income.

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

Washington median rent
$1,198/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Missouri)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
39.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Washington's median rent of $1,198 exceeds that threshold by $287/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 68.4 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 Washington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Jennings, MO
$1,197/mo (39.4% of income)
Webb City, MO
$1,197/mo (39.4% of income)
Joplin, MO
$1,197/mo (39.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Washington

View full rent data for Washington, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Washington, MO?

Median rent in Washington is $1,198 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Missouri earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 39.5% 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 Washington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Missouri (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Washington's current median rent is $1,198/mo, which is $287/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Missouri works roughly 68.4 hours a month to cover Washington's median rent of $1,198.

Where is rent cheaper than Washington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Jennings ($1,197/mo), Webb City ($1,197/mo), Joplin ($1,197/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 Washington, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.