Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Johnson City, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.3% of gross income.

Johnson City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Johnson City median rent
$1,467/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Tennessee)
$36,441/yr
Rent as % of income
48.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,037, and the 30% rule supports up to $911/mo in rent. Johnson City's median rent of $1,467 exceeds that threshold by $556/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 83.7 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Johnson City, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Seymour, TN
$1,465/mo (48.2% of income)
Soddy-Daisy, TN
$1,463/mo (48.2% of income)
Tullahoma, TN
$1,462/mo (48.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Johnson City

View full rent data for Johnson City, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Johnson City, TN?

Median rent in Johnson City is $1,467 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Tennessee earns about $36,441 a year, which makes that rent 48.3% 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 Johnson City?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Tennessee (~$36,441/yr) supports up to $911 a month in rent. Johnson City's current median rent is $1,467/mo, which is $556/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Tennessee works roughly 83.7 hours a month to cover Johnson City's median rent of $1,467.

Where is rent cheaper than Johnson City for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Seymour ($1,465/mo), Soddy-Daisy ($1,463/mo), Tullahoma ($1,462/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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