Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Jackson, MS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.7% of gross income.

Jackson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Jackson median rent
$1,270/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Mississippi)
$39,334/yr
Rent as % of income
38.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,278, and the 30% rule supports up to $983/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,270 exceeds that threshold by $287/mo, putting a dental assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A dental assistant works roughly 67.2 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Tupelo, MS
$1,264/mo (38.6% of income)
Tupelo, MS
$1,251/mo (38.2% of income)
Moss Point, MS
$1,250/mo (38.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Jackson, MS?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,270 a month. A typical dental assistant in Mississippi earns about $39,334 a year, which makes that rent 38.7% 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 Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Mississippi (~$39,334/yr) supports up to $983 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which is $287/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a dental assistant in Mississippi works roughly 67.2 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a dental assistant?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Tupelo ($1,264/mo), Tupelo ($1,251/mo), Moss Point ($1,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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