Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Waite Park, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.6% of gross income.

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

Waite Park median rent
$1,228/mo
Paramedic salary (Minnesota)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
26.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Waite Park's median rent of $1,228 leaves roughly $155/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 46.2 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 Waite Park, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,226/mo (26.6% of income)
Mankato, MN
$1,217/mo (26.4% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,200/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waite Park

View full rent data for Waite Park, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Waite Park, MN?

Median rent in Waite Park is $1,228 a month. A typical paramedic in Minnesota earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 26.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Waite Park?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Minnesota (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Waite Park's current median rent is $1,228/mo, which leaves a $155/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Minnesota works roughly 46.2 hours a month to cover Waite Park's median rent of $1,228.

Where is rent cheaper than Waite Park for a paramedic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,226/mo), Mankato ($1,217/mo), Saint Cloud ($1,200/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 Waite Park, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.