Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Yelm, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.2% of gross income.

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

Yelm median rent
$2,226/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Washington)
$44,363/yr
Rent as % of income
60.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,697, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,109/mo in rent. Yelm's median rent of $2,226 exceeds that threshold by $1,117/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 104.4 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 Yelm, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Monroe, WA
$2,225/mo (60.2% of income)
Issaquah, WA
$2,224/mo (60.2% of income)
Monroe, WA
$2,224/mo (60.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Yelm

View full rent data for Yelm, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Yelm, WA?

Median rent in Yelm is $2,226 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Washington earns about $44,363 a year, which makes that rent 60.2% 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 Yelm?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Washington (~$44,363/yr) supports up to $1,109 a month in rent. Yelm's current median rent is $2,226/mo, which is $1,117/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a nursing assistant in Washington works roughly 104.4 hours a month to cover Yelm's median rent of $2,226.

Where is rent cheaper than Yelm for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Monroe ($2,225/mo), Issaquah ($2,224/mo), Monroe ($2,224/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 Yelm, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.