Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Saint Joseph, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.9% of gross income.

Saint Joseph rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Saint Joseph median rent
$1,056/mo
Paramedic salary (Missouri)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
25.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Saint Joseph's median rent of $1,056 leaves roughly $167/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 44.9 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 Saint Joseph, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Saint Robert, MO
$1,051/mo (25.8% of income)
Waynesville, MO
$1,050/mo (25.8% of income)
Warrensburg, MO
$1,049/mo (25.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Joseph

View full rent data for Saint Joseph, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Saint Joseph, MO?

Median rent in Saint Joseph is $1,056 a month. A typical paramedic in Missouri earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 25.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Saint Joseph?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Missouri (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Saint Joseph's current median rent is $1,056/mo, which leaves a $167/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Missouri works roughly 44.9 hours a month to cover Saint Joseph's median rent of $1,056.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Joseph for a paramedic?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Saint Robert ($1,051/mo), Waynesville ($1,050/mo), Warrensburg ($1,049/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 Saint Joseph, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.