Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Pella, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.6% of gross income.

Pella rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Pella median rent
$1,085/mo
Paramedic salary (Iowa)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
26.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Pella's median rent of $1,085 leaves roughly $138/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 46.1 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Pella, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Ames, IA
$1,084/mo (26.6% of income)
Dubuque, IA
$1,084/mo (26.6% of income)
Dubuque, IA
$1,082/mo (26.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pella

View full rent data for Pella, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Pella, IA?

Median rent in Pella is $1,085 a month. A typical paramedic in Iowa earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 26.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Pella?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Iowa (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Pella's current median rent is $1,085/mo, which leaves a $138/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Iowa works roughly 46.1 hours a month to cover Pella's median rent of $1,085.

Where is rent cheaper than Pella for a paramedic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Ames ($1,084/mo), Dubuque ($1,084/mo), Dubuque ($1,082/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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