Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Austin, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

Austin rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Austin median rent
$1,041/mo
Paramedic salary (Minnesota)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $1,041 leaves roughly $342/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 39.2 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Waseca, MN
$990/mo (21.5% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$963/mo (20.9% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$960/mo (20.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Austin, MN?

Median rent in Austin is $1,041 a month. A typical paramedic in Minnesota earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Minnesota (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,041/mo, which leaves a $342/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Minnesota works roughly 39.2 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,041.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a paramedic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Waseca ($990/mo), Albert Lea ($963/mo), Albert Lea ($960/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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