Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Ontario, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.4% of gross income.

Ontario rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Ontario median rent
$2,635/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
50.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Ontario's median rent of $2,635 exceeds that threshold by $1,066/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 87.3 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 Ontario, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Santee, CA
$2,634/mo (50.4% of income)
Benicia, CA
$2,634/mo (50.4% of income)
Benicia, CA
$2,633/mo (50.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ontario

View full rent data for Ontario, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Ontario, CA?

Median rent in Ontario is $2,635 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 50.4% 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 Ontario?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Ontario's current median rent is $2,635/mo, which is $1,066/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 87.3 hours a month to cover Ontario's median rent of $2,635.

Where is rent cheaper than Ontario for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Santee ($2,634/mo), Benicia ($2,634/mo), Benicia ($2,633/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 Ontario, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.