Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Silver Spring, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.1% of gross income.

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

Silver Spring median rent
$1,966/mo
Paramedic salary (Maryland)
$57,434/yr
Rent as % of income
41.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,786, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,436/mo in rent. Silver Spring's median rent of $1,966 exceeds that threshold by $530/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 71.2 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 Silver Spring, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Essex, MD
$1,965/mo (41.1% of income)
Lanham Seabrook, MD
$1,965/mo (41.1% of income)
Germantown, MD
$1,962/mo (41% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Silver Spring

View full rent data for Silver Spring, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Silver Spring, MD?

Median rent in Silver Spring is $1,966 a month. A typical paramedic in Maryland earns about $57,434 a year, which makes that rent 41.1% 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 Silver Spring?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Maryland (~$57,434/yr) supports up to $1,436 a month in rent. Silver Spring's current median rent is $1,966/mo, which is $530/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a paramedic in Maryland works roughly 71.2 hours a month to cover Silver Spring's median rent of $1,966.

Where is rent cheaper than Silver Spring for a paramedic?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Essex ($1,965/mo), Lanham Seabrook ($1,965/mo), Germantown ($1,962/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 Silver Spring, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.