Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Stockton, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38% of gross income.

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

Stockton median rent
$1,989/mo
Paramedic salary (California)
$62,752/yr
Rent as % of income
38%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,229, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,569/mo in rent. Stockton's median rent of $1,989 exceeds that threshold by $420/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 65.9 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 California cities have lower median rent than Stockton, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Sacramento, CA
$1,988/mo (38% of income)
La Riviera, CA
$1,988/mo (38% of income)
Hawthorne, CA
$1,987/mo (38% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Stockton

View full rent data for Stockton, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Stockton, CA?

Median rent in Stockton is $1,989 a month. A typical paramedic in California earns about $62,752 a year, which makes that rent 38% 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 Stockton?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in California (~$62,752/yr) supports up to $1,569 a month in rent. Stockton's current median rent is $1,989/mo, which is $420/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in California works roughly 65.9 hours a month to cover Stockton's median rent of $1,989.

Where is rent cheaper than Stockton for a paramedic?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Sacramento ($1,988/mo), La Riviera ($1,988/mo), Hawthorne ($1,987/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 Stockton, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.