Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Worcester, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.1% of gross income.

Worcester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Worcester median rent
$2,164/mo
Paramedic salary (Massachusetts)
$61,689/yr
Rent as % of income
42.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,141, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,542/mo in rent. Worcester's median rent of $2,164 exceeds that threshold by $622/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 73 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Worcester, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Brockton, MA
$2,163/mo (42.1% of income)
Attleboro, MA
$2,152/mo (41.9% of income)
Taunton, MA
$2,151/mo (41.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Worcester

View full rent data for Worcester, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Worcester, MA?

Median rent in Worcester is $2,164 a month. A typical paramedic in Massachusetts earns about $61,689 a year, which makes that rent 42.1% 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 Worcester?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Massachusetts (~$61,689/yr) supports up to $1,542 a month in rent. Worcester's current median rent is $2,164/mo, which is $622/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a paramedic in Massachusetts works roughly 73 hours a month to cover Worcester's median rent of $2,164.

Where is rent cheaper than Worcester for a paramedic?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Brockton ($2,163/mo), Attleboro ($2,152/mo), Taunton ($2,151/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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