Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Washington, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.8% of gross income.

Washington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Washington median rent
$940/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Pennsylvania)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Washington's median rent of $940 leaves roughly $40/mo of headroom under that threshold. A nursing assistant works roughly 49.9 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 Washington, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Butler, PA
$938/mo (28.7% of income)
Ambridge, PA
$937/mo (28.7% of income)
Grove City, PA
$936/mo (28.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Washington

View full rent data for Washington, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Washington, PA?

Median rent in Washington is $940 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Pennsylvania earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 28.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Washington?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Pennsylvania (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Washington's current median rent is $940/mo, which leaves a $40/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Pennsylvania works roughly 49.9 hours a month to cover Washington's median rent of $940.

Where is rent cheaper than Washington for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Butler ($938/mo), Ambridge ($937/mo), Grove City ($936/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 Washington, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.