Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Wauwatosa, WI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.9% of gross income.

Wauwatosa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Wauwatosa median rent
$1,722/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Wisconsin)
$37,630/yr
Rent as % of income
54.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,136, and the 30% rule supports up to $941/mo in rent. Wauwatosa's median rent of $1,722 exceeds that threshold by $781/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 95.2 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Wauwatosa, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Saint Francis, WI
$1,721/mo (54.9% of income)
Glendale, WI
$1,721/mo (54.9% of income)
Saint Francis, WI
$1,720/mo (54.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wauwatosa

View full rent data for Wauwatosa, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Wauwatosa, WI?

Median rent in Wauwatosa is $1,722 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Wisconsin earns about $37,630 a year, which makes that rent 54.9% 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 Wauwatosa?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Wisconsin (~$37,630/yr) supports up to $941 a month in rent. Wauwatosa's current median rent is $1,722/mo, which is $781/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a nursing assistant in Wisconsin works roughly 95.2 hours a month to cover Wauwatosa's median rent of $1,722.

Where is rent cheaper than Wauwatosa for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Saint Francis ($1,721/mo), Glendale ($1,721/mo), Saint Francis ($1,720/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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