Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Springfield, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.

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

Springfield median rent
$1,230/mo
Paramedic salary (Missouri)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
30.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Springfield's median rent of $1,230 exceeds that threshold by $7/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 52.3 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 Springfield, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Spanish Lake, MO
$1,229/mo (30.1% of income)
Saint Ann, MO
$1,228/mo (30.1% of income)
Maplewood, MO
$1,228/mo (30.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springfield

View full rent data for Springfield, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Springfield, MO?

Median rent in Springfield is $1,230 a month. A typical paramedic in Missouri earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Springfield?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Missouri (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Springfield's current median rent is $1,230/mo, which is $7/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Missouri works roughly 52.3 hours a month to cover Springfield's median rent of $1,230.

Where is rent cheaper than Springfield for a paramedic?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Spanish Lake ($1,229/mo), Saint Ann ($1,228/mo), Maplewood ($1,228/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 Springfield, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.