Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Yakima, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Yakima rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Yakima median rent
$1,330/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Washington)
$54,387/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,532, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,360/mo in rent. Yakima's median rent of $1,330 leaves roughly $30/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental assistant works roughly 50.9 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Yakima, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Centralia, WA
$1,329/mo (29.3% of income)
Centralia, WA
$1,328/mo (29.3% of income)
Centralia, WA
$1,327/mo (29.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Yakima

View full rent data for Yakima, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Yakima, WA?

Median rent in Yakima is $1,330 a month. A typical dental assistant in Washington earns about $54,387 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Yakima?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Washington (~$54,387/yr) supports up to $1,360 a month in rent. Yakima's current median rent is $1,330/mo, which leaves a $30/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a dental assistant in Washington works roughly 50.9 hours a month to cover Yakima's median rent of $1,330.

Where is rent cheaper than Yakima for a dental assistant?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Centralia ($1,329/mo), Centralia ($1,328/mo), Centralia ($1,327/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

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