Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Yakima, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37% of gross income.

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

Yakima median rent
$1,369/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
37%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Yakima's median rent of $1,369 exceeds that threshold by $260/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 64.2 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 Yakima, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Richland, WA
$1,368/mo (37% of income)
Vancouver, WA
$1,355/mo (36.7% of income)
Longview, WA
$1,354/mo (36.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Yakima

View full rent data for Yakima, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Yakima, WA?

Median rent in Yakima is $1,369 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 37% 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 Yakima?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Yakima's current median rent is $1,369/mo, which is $260/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 64.2 hours a month to cover Yakima's median rent of $1,369.

Where is rent cheaper than Yakima for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Richland ($1,368/mo), Vancouver ($1,355/mo), Longview ($1,354/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 Yakima, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.