Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Butte, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.2% of gross income.

Butte rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Butte median rent
$1,410/mo
Paramedic salary (Montana)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
36.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. Butte's median rent of $1,410 exceeds that threshold by $240/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 62.7 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Butte, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Livingston, MT
$1,406/mo (36.1% of income)
Billings, MT
$1,404/mo (36% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,396/mo (35.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Butte

View full rent data for Butte, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Butte, MT?

Median rent in Butte is $1,410 a month. A typical paramedic in Montana earns about $46,798 a year, which makes that rent 36.2% 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 Butte?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Montana (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. Butte's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which is $240/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Montana works roughly 62.7 hours a month to cover Butte's median rent of $1,410.

Where is rent cheaper than Butte for a paramedic?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Livingston ($1,406/mo), Billings ($1,404/mo), Great Falls ($1,396/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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