Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in East Los Angeles, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.1% of gross income.

East Los Angeles rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

East Los Angeles median rent
$2,204/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
42.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. East Los Angeles's median rent of $2,204 exceeds that threshold by $635/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 73.1 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 California cities have lower median rent than East Los Angeles, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Atascadero, CA
$2,203/mo (42.1% of income)
West Sacramento, CA
$2,203/mo (42.1% of income)
Guerneville, CA
$2,203/mo (42.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for East Los Angeles

View full rent data for East Los Angeles, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in East Los Angeles, CA?

Median rent in East Los Angeles is $2,204 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 42.1% 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 East Los Angeles?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. East Los Angeles's current median rent is $2,204/mo, which is $635/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in East Los Angeles?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 73.1 hours a month to cover East Los Angeles's median rent of $2,204.

Where is rent cheaper than East Los Angeles for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Atascadero ($2,203/mo), West Sacramento ($2,203/mo), Guerneville ($2,203/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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