Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Joplin, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.

Joplin rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Joplin median rent
$1,306/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Missouri)
$55,927/yr
Rent as % of income
28%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,661, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,398/mo in rent. Joplin's median rent of $1,306 leaves roughly $92/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Missouri cities have lower median rent than Joplin, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Saint Louis, MO
$1,304/mo (28% of income)
Hazelwood, MO
$1,303/mo (28% of income)
Hazelwood, MO
$1,302/mo (27.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Joplin

View full rent data for Joplin, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Joplin, MO?

Median rent in Joplin is $1,306 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Missouri earns about $55,927 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Joplin?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Missouri (~$55,927/yr) supports up to $1,398 a month in rent. Joplin's current median rent is $1,306/mo, which leaves a $92/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Joplin?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Missouri works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover Joplin's median rent of $1,306.

Where is rent cheaper than Joplin for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Saint Louis ($1,304/mo), Hazelwood ($1,303/mo), Hazelwood ($1,302/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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