Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Decatur, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22% of gross income.

Decatur rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Decatur median rent
$995/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
22%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $995 leaves roughly $361/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 38.2 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Dixon, IL
$991/mo (21.9% of income)
Pekin, IL
$990/mo (21.9% of income)
Dixon, IL
$988/mo (21.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Decatur, IL?

Median rent in Decatur is $995 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 22% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Illinois (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $995/mo, which leaves a $361/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Illinois works roughly 38.2 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $995.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Dixon ($991/mo), Pekin ($990/mo), Dixon ($988/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 Decatur, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.