Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Orem, UT?

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

Orem rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Utah state estimate).

Orem median rent
$1,520/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Utah)
$38,026/yr
Rent as % of income
48%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,169, and the 30% rule supports up to $951/mo in rent. Orem's median rent of $1,520 exceeds that threshold by $569/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 Utah cities have lower median rent than Orem, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

West Valley City, UT
$1,519/mo (47.9% of income)
Taylorsville, UT
$1,511/mo (47.7% of income)
Cedar City, UT
$1,511/mo (47.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Orem

View full rent data for Orem, UT

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Orem, UT?

Median rent in Orem is $1,520 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Utah earns about $38,026 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 Orem?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Utah (~$38,026/yr) supports up to $951 a month in rent. Orem's current median rent is $1,520/mo, which is $569/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Utah works roughly 83.1 hours a month to cover Orem's median rent of $1,520.

Where is rent cheaper than Orem for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Utah cities with lower median rent include West Valley City ($1,519/mo), Taylorsville ($1,511/mo), Cedar City ($1,511/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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