Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Waynesville, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.3% of gross income.

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

Waynesville median rent
$1,102/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Missouri)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
36.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Waynesville's median rent of $1,102 exceeds that threshold by $191/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 62.9 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 Waynesville, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Jefferson City, MO
$1,098/mo (36.2% of income)
Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,095/mo (36.1% of income)
Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,093/mo (36% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waynesville

View full rent data for Waynesville, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Waynesville, MO?

Median rent in Waynesville is $1,102 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Missouri earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 36.3% 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 Waynesville?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Missouri (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Waynesville's current median rent is $1,102/mo, which is $191/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Missouri works roughly 62.9 hours a month to cover Waynesville's median rent of $1,102.

Where is rent cheaper than Waynesville for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Jefferson City ($1,098/mo), Cape Girardeau ($1,095/mo), Cape Girardeau ($1,093/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 Waynesville, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.