Rent Affordability for Paramedics in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$53,180/yr
Gross monthly
$4,432
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$1,330/mo
Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest paramedic pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $66,475/yr | $1,662/mo | View cities › |
| California | $62,752/yr | $1,569/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $61,689/yr | $1,542/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $60,625/yr | $1,516/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $59,562/yr | $1,489/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $59,562/yr | $1,489/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $59,562/yr | $1,489/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $58,498/yr | $1,462/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $57,434/yr | $1,436/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $57,434/yr | $1,436/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest paramedic pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $43,076/yr | $1,077/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $44,139/yr | $1,103/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $45,203/yr | $1,130/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $45,735/yr | $1,143/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $46,267/yr | $1,157/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $46,798/yr | $1,170/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $46,798/yr | $1,170/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $46,798/yr | $1,170/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $46,798/yr | $1,170/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $46,798/yr | $1,170/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIndianaIowaMissouriTennesseeKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can a paramedic afford rent in their service area?
In most lower- and mid-cost US metros, yes, especially with overtime. In high-cost coastal cities, paramedic base pay alone is typically rent-burdened.
What rent can a paramedic afford?
At the BLS national mean of $53,180, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.