Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Pekin, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.6% of gross income.

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

Pekin median rent
$843/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
18.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Pekin's median rent of $843 leaves roughly $513/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 32.3 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 Pekin, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Rantoul, IL
$841/mo (18.6% of income)
Rantoul, IL
$841/mo (18.6% of income)
Danville, IL
$833/mo (18.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pekin

View full rent data for Pekin, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Pekin, IL?

Median rent in Pekin is $843 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 18.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Pekin?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Illinois (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Pekin's current median rent is $843/mo, which leaves a $513/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Illinois works roughly 32.3 hours a month to cover Pekin's median rent of $843.

Where is rent cheaper than Pekin for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rantoul ($841/mo), Rantoul ($841/mo), Danville ($833/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 Pekin, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.