Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Derby, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.7% of gross income.

Derby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Derby median rent
$1,582/mo
Paramedic salary (Kansas)
$47,862/yr
Rent as % of income
39.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,989, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,197/mo in rent. Derby's median rent of $1,582 exceeds that threshold by $385/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 68.8 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Derby, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Gardner, KS
$1,580/mo (39.6% of income)
Goddard, KS
$1,578/mo (39.6% of income)
Gardner, KS
$1,575/mo (39.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Derby

View full rent data for Derby, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Derby, KS?

Median rent in Derby is $1,582 a month. A typical paramedic in Kansas earns about $47,862 a year, which makes that rent 39.7% 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 Derby?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Kansas (~$47,862/yr) supports up to $1,197 a month in rent. Derby's current median rent is $1,582/mo, which is $385/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $23 an hour, a paramedic in Kansas works roughly 68.8 hours a month to cover Derby's median rent of $1,582.

Where is rent cheaper than Derby for a paramedic?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Gardner ($1,580/mo), Goddard ($1,578/mo), Gardner ($1,575/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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