Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Fortuna, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.7% of gross income.

Fortuna rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Fortuna median rent
$1,240/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
23.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Fortuna's median rent of $1,240 leaves roughly $329/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 41.1 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 Fortuna, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Oildale, CA
$1,239/mo (23.7% of income)
Porterville, CA
$1,233/mo (23.6% of income)
Porterville, CA
$1,227/mo (23.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fortuna

View full rent data for Fortuna, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Fortuna, CA?

Median rent in Fortuna is $1,240 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 23.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Fortuna?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Fortuna's current median rent is $1,240/mo, which leaves a $329/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 41.1 hours a month to cover Fortuna's median rent of $1,240.

Where is rent cheaper than Fortuna for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Oildale ($1,239/mo), Porterville ($1,233/mo), Porterville ($1,227/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 Fortuna, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.