Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Garfield, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.7% of gross income.

Garfield rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Garfield median rent
$2,469/mo
Paramedic salary (New Jersey)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
49.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Garfield's median rent of $2,469 exceeds that threshold by $980/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 86.2 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Garfield, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Springfield, NJ
$2,468/mo (49.7% of income)
West New York, NJ
$2,468/mo (49.7% of income)
Rahway, NJ
$2,468/mo (49.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Garfield

View full rent data for Garfield, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Garfield, NJ?

Median rent in Garfield is $2,469 a month. A typical paramedic in New Jersey earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 49.7% 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 Garfield?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in New Jersey (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Garfield's current median rent is $2,469/mo, which is $980/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in New Jersey works roughly 86.2 hours a month to cover Garfield's median rent of $2,469.

Where is rent cheaper than Garfield for a paramedic?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($2,468/mo), West New York ($2,468/mo), Rahway ($2,468/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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