Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Erie, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.

Erie rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Erie median rent
$1,098/mo
Paramedic salary (Pennsylvania)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
25%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Erie's median rent of $1,098 leaves roughly $218/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 43.4 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Erie, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Tamaqua, PA
$1,097/mo (25% of income)
Homestead, PA
$1,096/mo (25% of income)
Beaver, PA
$1,096/mo (25% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Erie

View full rent data for Erie, PA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Erie, PA?

Median rent in Erie is $1,098 a month. A typical paramedic in Pennsylvania earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Erie?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Pennsylvania (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $1,098/mo, which leaves a $218/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Pennsylvania works roughly 43.4 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $1,098.

Where is rent cheaper than Erie for a paramedic?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Tamaqua ($1,097/mo), Homestead ($1,096/mo), Beaver ($1,096/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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