Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

Aberdeen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Aberdeen median rent
$1,049/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (South Dakota)
$34,857/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,905, and the 30% rule supports up to $871/mo in rent. Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049 exceeds that threshold by $178/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 62.6 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Aberdeen, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (36% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (35.6% of income)
Mitchell, SD
$1,021/mo (35.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aberdeen

View full rent data for Aberdeen, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Median rent in Aberdeen is $1,049 a month. A typical nursing assistant in South Dakota earns about $34,857 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% 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 Aberdeen?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in South Dakota (~$34,857/yr) supports up to $871 a month in rent. Aberdeen's current median rent is $1,049/mo, which is $178/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a nursing assistant in South Dakota works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049.

Where is rent cheaper than Aberdeen for a nursing assistant?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo), Mitchell ($1,021/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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