Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Calera, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.

Calera rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Calera median rent
$1,745/mo
Paramedic salary (Alabama)
$45,735/yr
Rent as % of income
45.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,143/mo in rent. Calera's median rent of $1,745 exceeds that threshold by $602/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 79.4 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 Alabama cities have lower median rent than Calera, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Owens Cross Roads, AL
$1,744/mo (45.8% of income)
Margaret, AL
$1,744/mo (45.8% of income)
Alabaster, AL
$1,744/mo (45.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Calera

View full rent data for Calera, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Calera, AL?

Median rent in Calera is $1,745 a month. A typical paramedic in Alabama earns about $45,735 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% 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 Calera?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Alabama (~$45,735/yr) supports up to $1,143 a month in rent. Calera's current median rent is $1,745/mo, which is $602/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Alabama works roughly 79.4 hours a month to cover Calera's median rent of $1,745.

Where is rent cheaper than Calera for a paramedic?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Owens Cross Roads ($1,744/mo), Margaret ($1,744/mo), Alabaster ($1,744/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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