Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

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

Pleasant Hill median rent
$1,346/mo
Paramedic salary (Iowa)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Pleasant Hill's median rent of $1,346 exceeds that threshold by $123/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 57.2 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 Pleasant Hill, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

North Liberty, IA
$1,345/mo (33% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,345/mo (33% of income)
Cedar Falls, IA
$1,344/mo (33% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pleasant Hill

View full rent data for Pleasant Hill, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Pleasant Hill, IA?

Median rent in Pleasant Hill is $1,346 a month. A typical paramedic in Iowa earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 33% 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 Pleasant Hill?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Iowa (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Pleasant Hill's current median rent is $1,346/mo, which is $123/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Iowa works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Pleasant Hill's median rent of $1,346.

Where is rent cheaper than Pleasant Hill for a paramedic?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include North Liberty ($1,345/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,345/mo), Cedar Falls ($1,344/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 Pleasant Hill, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.