Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Wake Forest, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.5% of gross income.

Wake Forest rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Wake Forest median rent
$1,813/mo
Paramedic salary (North Carolina)
$49,989/yr
Rent as % of income
43.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,250/mo in rent. Wake Forest's median rent of $1,813 exceeds that threshold by $563/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 75.4 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Wake Forest, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Gibsonville, NC
$1,812/mo (43.5% of income)
Southern Pines, NC
$1,812/mo (43.5% of income)
Clemmons, NC
$1,812/mo (43.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wake Forest

View full rent data for Wake Forest, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Wake Forest, NC?

Median rent in Wake Forest is $1,813 a month. A typical paramedic in North Carolina earns about $49,989 a year, which makes that rent 43.5% 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 Wake Forest?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in North Carolina (~$49,989/yr) supports up to $1,250 a month in rent. Wake Forest's current median rent is $1,813/mo, which is $563/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in North Carolina works roughly 75.4 hours a month to cover Wake Forest's median rent of $1,813.

Where is rent cheaper than Wake Forest for a paramedic?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Gibsonville ($1,812/mo), Southern Pines ($1,812/mo), Clemmons ($1,812/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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