Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Indianapolis, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.6% of gross income.

Indianapolis rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Indianapolis median rent
$1,411/mo
Paramedic salary (Indiana)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
34.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Indianapolis's median rent of $1,411 exceeds that threshold by $188/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 60 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Indianapolis, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Portage, IN
$1,410/mo (34.6% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,409/mo (34.6% of income)
Portage, IN
$1,406/mo (34.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Indianapolis

View full rent data for Indianapolis, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?

Median rent in Indianapolis is $1,411 a month. A typical paramedic in Indiana earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 34.6% 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 Indianapolis?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Indiana (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Indianapolis's current median rent is $1,411/mo, which is $188/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Indiana works roughly 60 hours a month to cover Indianapolis's median rent of $1,411.

Where is rent cheaper than Indianapolis for a paramedic?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Portage ($1,410/mo), Hammond ($1,409/mo), Portage ($1,406/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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