Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Elgin, OK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.5% of gross income.

Elgin rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Elgin median rent
$1,891/mo
Paramedic salary (Oklahoma)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
48.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. Elgin's median rent of $1,891 exceeds that threshold by $721/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 84 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Elgin, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Jenks, OK
$1,872/mo (48% of income)
Bixby, OK
$1,825/mo (46.8% of income)
Bixby, OK
$1,822/mo (46.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elgin

View full rent data for Elgin, OK

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Elgin, OK?

Median rent in Elgin is $1,891 a month. A typical paramedic in Oklahoma earns about $46,798 a year, which makes that rent 48.5% 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 Elgin?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Oklahoma (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. Elgin's current median rent is $1,891/mo, which is $721/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in Oklahoma works roughly 84 hours a month to cover Elgin's median rent of $1,891.

Where is rent cheaper than Elgin for a paramedic?

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Jenks ($1,872/mo), Bixby ($1,825/mo), Bixby ($1,822/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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