Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Gurnee, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.5% of gross income.

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

Gurnee median rent
$1,965/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
43.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Gurnee's median rent of $1,965 exceeds that threshold by $609/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 75.3 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 Gurnee, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hoffman Estates, IL
$1,964/mo (43.4% of income)
McHenry, IL
$1,963/mo (43.4% of income)
Palatine, IL
$1,963/mo (43.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gurnee

View full rent data for Gurnee, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Gurnee, IL?

Median rent in Gurnee is $1,965 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 43.5% 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 Gurnee?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Illinois (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Gurnee's current median rent is $1,965/mo, which is $609/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Illinois works roughly 75.3 hours a month to cover Gurnee's median rent of $1,965.

Where is rent cheaper than Gurnee for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Hoffman Estates ($1,964/mo), McHenry ($1,963/mo), Palatine ($1,963/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 Gurnee, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.