Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Waseca, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.5% of gross income.

Waseca rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Waseca median rent
$990/mo
Paramedic salary (Minnesota)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
21.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Waseca's median rent of $990 leaves roughly $393/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 37.2 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 Waseca, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Austin, MN
$988/mo (21.4% of income)
Austin, MN
$969/mo (21% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$963/mo (20.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waseca

View full rent data for Waseca, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Waseca, MN?

Median rent in Waseca is $990 a month. A typical paramedic in Minnesota earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 21.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Waseca?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Minnesota (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Waseca's current median rent is $990/mo, which leaves a $393/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Minnesota works roughly 37.2 hours a month to cover Waseca's median rent of $990.

Where is rent cheaper than Waseca for a paramedic?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($988/mo), Austin ($969/mo), Albert Lea ($963/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 Waseca, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.