Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Shawnee, OK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.6% of gross income.

Shawnee rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Shawnee median rent
$1,150/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Oklahoma)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
39.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Shawnee's median rent of $1,150 exceeds that threshold by $279/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 68.6 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Shawnee, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Bethany, OK
$1,148/mo (39.5% of income)
Bethany, OK
$1,148/mo (39.5% of income)
Bethany, OK
$1,148/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Shawnee

View full rent data for Shawnee, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Shawnee, OK?

Median rent in Shawnee is $1,150 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Oklahoma earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 39.6% 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 Shawnee?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Oklahoma (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Shawnee's current median rent is $1,150/mo, which is $279/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in Oklahoma works roughly 68.6 hours a month to cover Shawnee's median rent of $1,150.

Where is rent cheaper than Shawnee for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Bethany ($1,148/mo), Bethany ($1,148/mo), Bethany ($1,148/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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