Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Eugene, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.2% of gross income.

Eugene rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Eugene median rent
$1,808/mo
Paramedic salary (Oregon)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
39.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Eugene's median rent of $1,808 exceeds that threshold by $425/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 68 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Eugene, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Beaverton, OR
$1,806/mo (39.2% of income)
Clackamas, OR
$1,806/mo (39.2% of income)
Saint Helens, OR
$1,805/mo (39.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Eugene

View full rent data for Eugene, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Eugene, OR?

Median rent in Eugene is $1,808 a month. A typical paramedic in Oregon earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 39.2% 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 Eugene?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Oregon (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Eugene's current median rent is $1,808/mo, which is $425/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Oregon works roughly 68 hours a month to cover Eugene's median rent of $1,808.

Where is rent cheaper than Eugene for a paramedic?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Beaverton ($1,806/mo), Clackamas ($1,806/mo), Saint Helens ($1,805/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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