Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Long Beach, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.5% of gross income.

Long Beach rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Long Beach median rent
$2,412/mo
Dental Assistant salary (California)
$57,301/yr
Rent as % of income
50.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,775, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,433/mo in rent. Long Beach's median rent of $2,412 exceeds that threshold by $979/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 87.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Long Beach, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Cerritos, CA
$2,411/mo (50.5% of income)
Ramona, CA
$2,410/mo (50.5% of income)
Fairfield, CA
$2,410/mo (50.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Long Beach

View full rent data for Long Beach, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Long Beach, CA?

Median rent in Long Beach is $2,412 a month. A typical dental assistant in California earns about $57,301 a year, which makes that rent 50.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Long Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in California (~$57,301/yr) supports up to $1,433 a month in rent. Long Beach's current median rent is $2,412/mo, which is $979/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Long Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a dental assistant in California works roughly 87.6 hours a month to cover Long Beach's median rent of $2,412.

Where is rent cheaper than Long Beach for a dental assistant?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Cerritos ($2,411/mo), Ramona ($2,410/mo), Fairfield ($2,410/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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