Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Ellicott City, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.3% of gross income.

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

Ellicott City median rent
$2,552/mo
Paramedic salary (Maryland)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
53.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Ellicott City's median rent of $2,552 exceeds that threshold by $1,116/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 92.4 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 Ellicott City, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Berlin, MD
$2,551/mo (53.3% of income)
Derwood, MD
$2,550/mo (53.3% of income)
Riverdale, MD
$2,547/mo (53.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ellicott City

View full rent data for Ellicott City, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Ellicott City, MD?

Median rent in Ellicott City is $2,552 a month. A typical paramedic in Maryland earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 53.3% 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 Ellicott City?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maryland (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Ellicott City's current median rent is $2,552/mo, which is $1,116/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Maryland works roughly 92.4 hours a month to cover Ellicott City's median rent of $2,552.

Where is rent cheaper than Ellicott City for a paramedic?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Berlin ($2,551/mo), Derwood ($2,550/mo), Riverdale ($2,547/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 Ellicott City, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.