Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in La Plata, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56% of gross income.

La Plata rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

La Plata median rent
$2,680/mo
Paramedic salary (Maryland)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
56%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. La Plata's median rent of $2,680 exceeds that threshold by $1,244/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 97.1 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 La Plata, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Chevy Chase, MD
$2,679/mo (56% of income)
Hanover, MD
$2,669/mo (55.8% of income)
New Market, MD
$2,666/mo (55.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for La Plata

View full rent data for La Plata, MD →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in La Plata, MD?

Median rent in La Plata is $2,680 a month. A typical paramedic in Maryland earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 56% 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 La Plata?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maryland (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. La Plata's current median rent is $2,680/mo, which is $1,244/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Maryland works roughly 97.1 hours a month to cover La Plata's median rent of $2,680.

Where is rent cheaper than La Plata for a paramedic?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Chevy Chase ($2,679/mo), Hanover ($2,669/mo), New Market ($2,666/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 La Plata, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.