Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Essex, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.2% of gross income.

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

Essex median rent
$1,352/mo
Paramedic salary (Maryland)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
28.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Essex's median rent of $1,352 leaves roughly $84/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 49 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 Essex, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Hagerstown, MD
$1,348/mo (28.2% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,345/mo (28.1% of income)
Hagerstown, MD
$1,344/mo (28.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Essex

View full rent data for Essex, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Essex, MD?

Median rent in Essex is $1,352 a month. A typical paramedic in Maryland earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 28.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Essex?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maryland (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Essex's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which leaves a $84/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Maryland works roughly 49 hours a month to cover Essex's median rent of $1,352.

Where is rent cheaper than Essex for a paramedic?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Hagerstown ($1,348/mo), Hagerstown ($1,345/mo), Hagerstown ($1,344/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 Essex, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.