Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Austin, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.5% of gross income.

Austin rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Austin median rent
$1,123/mo
Paramedic salary (Arkansas)
$44,139/yr
Rent as % of income
30.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,678, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,103/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $1,123 exceeds that threshold by $20/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 52.9 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

North Little Rock, AR
$1,122/mo (30.5% of income)
Jonesboro, AR
$1,117/mo (30.4% of income)
Hot Springs, AR
$1,117/mo (30.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Austin, AR?

Median rent in Austin is $1,123 a month. A typical paramedic in Arkansas earns about $44,139 a year, which makes that rent 30.5% 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 Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Arkansas (~$44,139/yr) supports up to $1,103 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,123/mo, which is $20/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a paramedic in Arkansas works roughly 52.9 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,123.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a paramedic?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,122/mo), Jonesboro ($1,117/mo), Hot Springs ($1,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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