Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Tampa, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.5% of gross income.

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

Tampa median rent
$1,999/mo
Paramedic salary (Florida)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
48.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Tampa's median rent of $1,999 exceeds that threshold by $763/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 84.1 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 Tampa, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Destin, FL
$1,998/mo (48.5% of income)
Doral, FL
$1,998/mo (48.5% of income)
Oldsmar, FL
$1,998/mo (48.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tampa

View full rent data for Tampa, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Tampa, FL?

Median rent in Tampa is $1,999 a month. A typical paramedic in Florida earns about $49,457 a year, which makes that rent 48.5% 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 Tampa?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Florida (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Tampa's current median rent is $1,999/mo, which is $763/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Florida works roughly 84.1 hours a month to cover Tampa's median rent of $1,999.

Where is rent cheaper than Tampa for a paramedic?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Destin ($1,998/mo), Doral ($1,998/mo), Oldsmar ($1,998/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 Tampa, FL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.