Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Sterling, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23% of gross income.

Sterling rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Sterling median rent
$1,070/mo
Paramedic salary (Colorado)
$55,839/yr
Rent as % of income
23%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,653, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,396/mo in rent. Sterling's median rent of $1,070 leaves roughly $326/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 39.9 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Sterling, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Pueblo, CO
$1,062/mo (22.8% of income)
Pueblo, CO
$959/mo (20.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sterling

View full rent data for Sterling, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Sterling, CO?

Median rent in Sterling is $1,070 a month. A typical paramedic in Colorado earns about $55,839 a year, which makes that rent 23% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Sterling?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Colorado (~$55,839/yr) supports up to $1,396 a month in rent. Sterling's current median rent is $1,070/mo, which leaves a $326/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Colorado works roughly 39.9 hours a month to cover Sterling's median rent of $1,070.

Where is rent cheaper than Sterling for a paramedic?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Pueblo ($1,062/mo), Pueblo ($959/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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