Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Jefferson City, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.9% of gross income.

Jefferson City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Jefferson City median rent
$1,098/mo
Paramedic salary (Missouri)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
26.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Jefferson City's median rent of $1,098 leaves roughly $125/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 46.7 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Jefferson City, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,095/mo (26.9% of income)
Cape Girardeau, MO
$1,093/mo (26.8% of income)
Saint Charles, MO
$1,091/mo (26.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jefferson City

View full rent data for Jefferson City, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Jefferson City, MO?

Median rent in Jefferson City is $1,098 a month. A typical paramedic in Missouri earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 26.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Jefferson City?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Missouri (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Jefferson City's current median rent is $1,098/mo, which leaves a $125/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Missouri works roughly 46.7 hours a month to cover Jefferson City's median rent of $1,098.

Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson City for a paramedic?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Cape Girardeau ($1,095/mo), Cape Girardeau ($1,093/mo), Saint Charles ($1,091/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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