Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Gretna, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.6% of gross income.

Gretna rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Gretna median rent
$1,641/mo
Paramedic salary (Louisiana)
$46,267/yr
Rent as % of income
42.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,856, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,157/mo in rent. Gretna's median rent of $1,641 exceeds that threshold by $484/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 73.8 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Gretna, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Ponchatoula, LA
$1,639/mo (42.5% of income)
New Orleans, LA
$1,637/mo (42.5% of income)
New Orleans, LA
$1,636/mo (42.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gretna

View full rent data for Gretna, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Gretna, LA?

Median rent in Gretna is $1,641 a month. A typical paramedic in Louisiana earns about $46,267 a year, which makes that rent 42.6% 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 Gretna?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Louisiana (~$46,267/yr) supports up to $1,157 a month in rent. Gretna's current median rent is $1,641/mo, which is $484/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Louisiana works roughly 73.8 hours a month to cover Gretna's median rent of $1,641.

Where is rent cheaper than Gretna for a paramedic?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Ponchatoula ($1,639/mo), New Orleans ($1,637/mo), New Orleans ($1,636/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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