Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Austin, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.5% of gross income.

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

Austin median rent
$947/mo
Paramedic salary (Minnesota)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
20.5%
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 $947 leaves roughly $436/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 35.6 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:

Albert Lea, MN
$923/mo (20% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (19.6% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (18.9% 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 $947 a month. A typical paramedic in Minnesota earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 20.5% 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 $947/mo, which leaves a $436/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 35.6 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $947.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a paramedic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Albert Lea ($923/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/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.