Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Smithville, MO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52.1% of gross income.

Smithville rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Smithville median rent
$2,126/mo
Paramedic salary (Missouri)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
52.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Smithville's median rent of $2,126 exceeds that threshold by $903/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 90.4 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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Riverside, MO
$2,051/mo (50.3% of income)
Chesterfield, MO
$2,022/mo (49.6% of income)
Grain Valley, MO
$1,991/mo (48.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Smithville

View full rent data for Smithville, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Smithville, MO?

Median rent in Smithville is $2,126 a month. A typical paramedic in Missouri earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 52.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Smithville?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Missouri (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $2,126/mo, which is $903/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Missouri works roughly 90.4 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $2,126.

Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a paramedic?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Riverside ($2,051/mo), Chesterfield ($2,022/mo), Grain Valley ($1,991/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 Smithville, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.