Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Grand Island, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.4% of gross income.

Grand Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Grand Island median rent
$1,337/mo
Paramedic salary (Nebraska)
$49,457/yr
Rent as % of income
32.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,236/mo in rent. Grand Island's median rent of $1,337 exceeds that threshold by $101/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 56.2 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Grand Island, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Bennington, NE
$1,333/mo (32.3% of income)
Bennington, NE
$1,333/mo (32.3% of income)
Lexington, NE
$1,332/mo (32.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Island

View full rent data for Grand Island, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Grand Island, NE?

Median rent in Grand Island is $1,337 a month. A typical paramedic in Nebraska earns about $49,457 a year, which makes that rent 32.4% 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 Grand Island?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Nebraska (~$49,457/yr) supports up to $1,236 a month in rent. Grand Island's current median rent is $1,337/mo, which is $101/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Nebraska works roughly 56.2 hours a month to cover Grand Island's median rent of $1,337.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Island for a paramedic?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Bennington ($1,333/mo), Bennington ($1,333/mo), Lexington ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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