Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Garfield, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.

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

Garfield median rent
$2,423/mo
Paramedic salary (New Jersey)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
48.8%
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 $2,423 exceeds that threshold by $934/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 84.6 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:

Hawthorne, NJ
$2,422/mo (48.8% of income)
Hawthorne, NJ
$2,422/mo (48.8% of income)
Keansburg, NJ
$2,422/mo (48.8% 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 $2,423 a month. A typical paramedic in New Jersey earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 $2,423/mo, which is $934/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 84.6 hours a month to cover Garfield's median rent of $2,423.

Where is rent cheaper than Garfield for a paramedic?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Hawthorne ($2,422/mo), Hawthorne ($2,422/mo), Keansburg ($2,422/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.