Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Kearney, NE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.9% of gross income.

Kearney rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Kearney median rent
$1,686/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Nebraska)
$36,837/yr
Rent as % of income
54.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,070, and the 30% rule supports up to $921/mo in rent. Kearney's median rent of $1,686 exceeds that threshold by $765/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 95.2 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Kearney, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Papillion, NE
$1,674/mo (54.5% of income)
Papillion, NE
$1,672/mo (54.5% of income)
Papillion, NE
$1,670/mo (54.4% of income)

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 $1,686 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Nebraska earns about $36,837 a year, which makes that rent 54.9% 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 $1,686/mo, which is $765/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 95.2 hours a month to cover Kearney's median rent of $1,686.

Where is rent cheaper than Kearney for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Papillion ($1,674/mo), Papillion ($1,672/mo), Papillion ($1,670/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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