Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Fairbanks, AK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.

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

Fairbanks median rent
$1,720/mo
Paramedic salary (Alaska)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
34.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Fairbanks's median rent of $1,720 exceeds that threshold by $231/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 60.1 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 Fairbanks, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Wasilla, AK
$1,718/mo (34.6% of income)
Anchorage, AK
$1,716/mo (34.6% of income)
Wasilla, AK
$1,715/mo (34.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairbanks

View full rent data for Fairbanks, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Fairbanks, AK?

Median rent in Fairbanks is $1,720 a month. A typical paramedic in Alaska earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% 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 Fairbanks?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Alaska (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Fairbanks's current median rent is $1,720/mo, which is $231/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Alaska works roughly 60.1 hours a month to cover Fairbanks's median rent of $1,720.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairbanks for a paramedic?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Wasilla ($1,718/mo), Anchorage ($1,716/mo), Wasilla ($1,715/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 Fairbanks, AK. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.