Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Jacksonville, FL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.8% of gross income.

Jacksonville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Jacksonville median rent
$1,600/mo
Paramedic salary (Florida)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
38.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Jacksonville's median rent of $1,600 exceeds that threshold by $364/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 67.3 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Jacksonville, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Pensacola, FL
$1,599/mo (38.8% of income)
Green Cove Springs, FL
$1,599/mo (38.8% of income)
Hialeah, FL
$1,597/mo (38.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jacksonville

View full rent data for Jacksonville, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Jacksonville, FL?

Median rent in Jacksonville is $1,600 a month. A typical paramedic in Florida earns about $49,457 a year, which makes that rent 38.8% 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 Jacksonville?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Florida (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Jacksonville's current median rent is $1,600/mo, which is $364/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Florida works roughly 67.3 hours a month to cover Jacksonville's median rent of $1,600.

Where is rent cheaper than Jacksonville for a paramedic?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Pensacola ($1,599/mo), Green Cove Springs ($1,599/mo), Hialeah ($1,597/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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