Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Decatur, AL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.4% of gross income.

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

Decatur median rent
$1,082/mo
Paramedic salary (Alabama)
$45,735/yr
Rent as % of income
28.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,143/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,082 leaves roughly $61/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 49.2 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 Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Jacksonville, AL
$1,080/mo (28.3% of income)
Hoover, AL
$1,078/mo (28.3% of income)
Jacksonville, AL
$1,078/mo (28.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Decatur, AL?

Median rent in Decatur is $1,082 a month. A typical paramedic in Alabama earns about $45,735 a year, which makes that rent 28.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Alabama (~$45,735/yr) supports up to $1,143 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,082/mo, which leaves a $61/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Alabama works roughly 49.2 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,082.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a paramedic?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Jacksonville ($1,080/mo), Hoover ($1,078/mo), Jacksonville ($1,078/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 Decatur, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.