Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Springfield, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

Springfield rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Springfield median rent
$1,176/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Illinois)
$49,531/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,128, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,238/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $1,176 leaves roughly $62/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental assistant works roughly 49.4 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Pontoon Beach, IL
$1,175/mo (28.5% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,175/mo (28.5% of income)
Collinsville, IL
$1,170/mo (28.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Springfield, IL?

Median rent in Springfield is $1,176 a month. A typical dental assistant in Illinois earns about $49,531 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Illinois (~$49,531/yr) supports up to $1,238 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,176/mo, which leaves a $62/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Illinois works roughly 49.4 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,176.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a dental assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Pontoon Beach ($1,175/mo), Shiloh ($1,175/mo), Collinsville ($1,170/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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