Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Auburn, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.8% of gross income.

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

Auburn median rent
$1,953/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
52.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Auburn's median rent of $1,953 exceeds that threshold by $844/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 91.6 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Auburn, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

West Richland, WA
$1,952/mo (52.8% of income)
Des Moines, WA
$1,952/mo (52.8% of income)
Lacey, WA
$1,951/mo (52.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Auburn

View full rent data for Auburn, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Auburn, WA?

Median rent in Auburn is $1,953 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 52.8% 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 Auburn?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Auburn's current median rent is $1,953/mo, which is $844/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 91.6 hours a month to cover Auburn's median rent of $1,953.

Where is rent cheaper than Auburn for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include West Richland ($1,952/mo), Des Moines ($1,952/mo), Lacey ($1,951/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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