Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Etna, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.1% of gross income.

Etna rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Etna median rent
$1,148/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Pennsylvania)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
35.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Etna's median rent of $1,148 exceeds that threshold by $168/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 60.9 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Etna, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Clairton, PA
$1,145/mo (35% of income)
Brentwood, PA
$1,143/mo (35% of income)
Brentwood, PA
$1,142/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Etna

View full rent data for Etna, PA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Etna, PA?

Median rent in Etna is $1,148 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Pennsylvania earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 35.1% 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 Etna?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Pennsylvania (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Etna's current median rent is $1,148/mo, which is $168/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Pennsylvania works roughly 60.9 hours a month to cover Etna's median rent of $1,148.

Where is rent cheaper than Etna for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Clairton ($1,145/mo), Brentwood ($1,143/mo), Brentwood ($1,142/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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