Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Clay, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.6% of gross income.

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

Clay median rent
$1,698/mo
Paramedic salary (Alabama)
$45,735/yr
Rent as % of income
44.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,143/mo in rent. Clay's median rent of $1,698 exceeds that threshold by $555/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 77.2 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 Clay, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Odenville, AL
$1,697/mo (44.5% of income)
Foley, AL
$1,691/mo (44.4% of income)
Foley, AL
$1,690/mo (44.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clay

View full rent data for Clay, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Clay, AL?

Median rent in Clay is $1,698 a month. A typical paramedic in Alabama earns about $45,735 a year, which makes that rent 44.6% 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 Clay?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Alabama (~$45,735/yr) supports up to $1,143 a month in rent. Clay's current median rent is $1,698/mo, which is $555/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Alabama works roughly 77.2 hours a month to cover Clay's median rent of $1,698.

Where is rent cheaper than Clay for a paramedic?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Odenville ($1,697/mo), Foley ($1,691/mo), Foley ($1,690/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 Clay, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.