Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Laurel, MT?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

Laurel rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Laurel median rent
$1,286/mo
Paramedic salary (Montana)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. Laurel's median rent of $1,286 exceeds that threshold by $116/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 57.2 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 Laurel, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Butte, MT
$1,277/mo (32.7% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,255/mo (32.2% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,243/mo (31.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Laurel

View full rent data for Laurel, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Laurel, MT?

Median rent in Laurel is $1,286 a month. A typical paramedic in Montana earns about $46,798 a year, which makes that rent 33% 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 Laurel?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Montana (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. Laurel's current median rent is $1,286/mo, which is $116/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Montana works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Laurel's median rent of $1,286.

Where is rent cheaper than Laurel for a paramedic?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Butte ($1,277/mo), Butte ($1,255/mo), Butte ($1,243/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 Laurel, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.