Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Jackson, MS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.4% of gross income.

Jackson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Jackson median rent
$1,270/mo
Paramedic salary (Mississippi)
$43,076/yr
Rent as % of income
35.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,590, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,077/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,270 exceeds that threshold by $193/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 61.3 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Tupelo, MS
$1,264/mo (35.2% of income)
Tupelo, MS
$1,251/mo (34.9% of income)
Moss Point, MS
$1,250/mo (34.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Jackson, MS?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,270 a month. A typical paramedic in Mississippi earns about $43,076 a year, which makes that rent 35.4% 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 Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Mississippi (~$43,076/yr) supports up to $1,077 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which is $193/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a paramedic in Mississippi works roughly 61.3 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a paramedic?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Tupelo ($1,264/mo), Tupelo ($1,251/mo), Moss Point ($1,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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