Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Pittsburgh, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48% of gross income.

Pittsburgh rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Pittsburgh median rent
$1,567/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Pennsylvania)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
48%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Pittsburgh's median rent of $1,567 exceeds that threshold by $587/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 83.1 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 Pittsburgh, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Canonsburg, PA
$1,566/mo (47.9% of income)
Drexel Hill, PA
$1,565/mo (47.9% of income)
Carlisle, PA
$1,565/mo (47.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pittsburgh

View full rent data for Pittsburgh, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?

Median rent in Pittsburgh is $1,567 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Pennsylvania earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 48% 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 Pittsburgh?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Pennsylvania (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Pittsburgh's current median rent is $1,567/mo, which is $587/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Pennsylvania works roughly 83.1 hours a month to cover Pittsburgh's median rent of $1,567.

Where is rent cheaper than Pittsburgh for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Canonsburg ($1,566/mo), Drexel Hill ($1,565/mo), Carlisle ($1,565/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 Pittsburgh, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.