Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Waipahu, HI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.5% of gross income.

Waipahu rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Hawaii state estimate).

Waipahu median rent
$2,897/mo
Paramedic salary (Hawaii)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
60.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Waipahu's median rent of $2,897 exceeds that threshold by $1,461/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 104.9 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 Hawaii cities have lower median rent than Waipahu, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Kaneohe, HI
$2,895/mo (60.5% of income)
Waialua, HI
$2,893/mo (60.4% of income)
Kailua Kona, HI
$2,877/mo (60.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waipahu

View full rent data for Waipahu, HI

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Waipahu, HI?

Median rent in Waipahu is $2,897 a month. A typical paramedic in Hawaii earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 60.5% 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 Waipahu?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Hawaii (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Waipahu's current median rent is $2,897/mo, which is $1,461/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Hawaii works roughly 104.9 hours a month to cover Waipahu's median rent of $2,897.

Where is rent cheaper than Waipahu for a paramedic?

Nearby Hawaii cities with lower median rent include Kaneohe ($2,895/mo), Waialua ($2,893/mo), Kailua Kona ($2,877/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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