Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Joshua Tree, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.3% of gross income.

Joshua Tree rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Joshua Tree median rent
$2,005/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
38.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Joshua Tree's median rent of $2,005 exceeds that threshold by $436/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 66.5 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 Joshua Tree, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Fair Oaks, CA
$2,004/mo (38.3% of income)
Desert Hot Springs, CA
$2,003/mo (38.3% of income)
Modesto, CA
$2,003/mo (38.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Joshua Tree

View full rent data for Joshua Tree, CA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Joshua Tree, CA?

Median rent in Joshua Tree is $2,005 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 38.3% 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 Joshua Tree?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Joshua Tree's current median rent is $2,005/mo, which is $436/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 66.5 hours a month to cover Joshua Tree's median rent of $2,005.

Where is rent cheaper than Joshua Tree for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Fair Oaks ($2,004/mo), Desert Hot Springs ($2,003/mo), Modesto ($2,003/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 Joshua Tree, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.