Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Anchorage, AK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.5% of gross income.

Anchorage rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Anchorage median rent
$1,710/mo
Paramedic salary (Alaska)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
34.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Anchorage's median rent of $1,710 exceeds that threshold by $221/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 59.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

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.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alaska cities have lower median rent than Anchorage, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Wasilla, AK
$1,695/mo (34.1% of income)
Wasilla, AK
$1,695/mo (34.1% of income)
Wasilla, AK
$1,695/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Anchorage

View full rent data for Anchorage, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Anchorage, AK?

Median rent in Anchorage is $1,710 a month. A typical paramedic in Alaska earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 34.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Anchorage?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Alaska (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Anchorage's current median rent is $1,710/mo, which is $221/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Anchorage?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Alaska works roughly 59.7 hours a month to cover Anchorage's median rent of $1,710.

Where is rent cheaper than Anchorage for a paramedic?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Wasilla ($1,695/mo), Wasilla ($1,695/mo), Wasilla ($1,695/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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