Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kearney, NE?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.4% of gross income.
Kearney rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).
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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Kearney, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kearney
View full rent data for Kearney, NE →Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Kearney, NE?
Median rent in Kearney is $1,515 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Nebraska earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 49.4% 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 Kearney?
Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Nebraska (~$36,837/yr) supports up to $921 a month in rent. Kearney's current median rent is $1,515/mo, which is $594/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Kearney?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Nebraska works roughly 85.5 hours a month to cover Kearney's median rent of $1,515.
Where is rent cheaper than Kearney for a nursing assistant?
Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Bennington ($1,477/mo), Columbus ($1,468/mo), Columbus ($1,464/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.