Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.1% of gross income.

Arlington Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Arlington Heights median rent
$1,949/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
43.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,949 exceeds that threshold by $593/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 74.7 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Arlington Heights, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hoffman Estates, IL
$1,946/mo (43% of income)
Saint Charles, IL
$1,945/mo (43% of income)
Palatine, IL
$1,940/mo (42.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington Heights

View full rent data for Arlington Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Arlington Heights, IL?

Median rent in Arlington Heights is $1,949 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 43.1% 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 Arlington Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Illinois (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Arlington Heights's current median rent is $1,949/mo, which is $593/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Illinois works roughly 74.7 hours a month to cover Arlington Heights's median rent of $1,949.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington Heights for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Hoffman Estates ($1,946/mo), Saint Charles ($1,945/mo), Palatine ($1,940/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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