Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Dundalk, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.7% of gross income.

Dundalk rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Dundalk median rent
$1,614/mo
Paramedic salary (Maryland)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
33.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Dundalk's median rent of $1,614 exceeds that threshold by $178/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58.5 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Dundalk, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Parkville, MD
$1,613/mo (33.7% of income)
Fort Washington, MD
$1,612/mo (33.7% of income)
Laurel, MD
$1,610/mo (33.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dundalk

View full rent data for Dundalk, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Dundalk, MD?

Median rent in Dundalk is $1,614 a month. A typical paramedic in Maryland earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 33.7% 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 Dundalk?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maryland (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Dundalk's current median rent is $1,614/mo, which is $178/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Maryland works roughly 58.5 hours a month to cover Dundalk's median rent of $1,614.

Where is rent cheaper than Dundalk for a paramedic?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Parkville ($1,613/mo), Fort Washington ($1,612/mo), Laurel ($1,610/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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