Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Dallas, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.5% of gross income.

Dallas rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Dallas median rent
$1,618/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Texas)
$39,214/yr
Rent as % of income
49.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,268, and the 30% rule supports up to $980/mo in rent. Dallas's median rent of $1,618 exceeds that threshold by $638/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 85.8 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Dallas, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Odessa, TX
$1,617/mo (49.5% of income)
Grand Prairie, TX
$1,617/mo (49.5% of income)
Harker Heights, TX
$1,617/mo (49.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dallas

View full rent data for Dallas, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Dallas, TX?

Median rent in Dallas is $1,618 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Texas earns about $39,214 a year, which makes that rent 49.5% 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 Dallas?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Texas (~$39,214/yr) supports up to $980 a month in rent. Dallas's current median rent is $1,618/mo, which is $638/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Texas works roughly 85.8 hours a month to cover Dallas's median rent of $1,618.

Where is rent cheaper than Dallas for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Odessa ($1,617/mo), Grand Prairie ($1,617/mo), Harker Heights ($1,617/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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