Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Rochester, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.5% of gross income.

Rochester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Rochester median rent
$944/mo
Paramedic salary (Pennsylvania)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
21.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Rochester's median rent of $944 leaves roughly $372/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 37.3 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 Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Harrisburg, PA
$942/mo (21.5% of income)
Latrobe, PA
$942/mo (21.5% of income)
Washington, PA
$940/mo (21.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rochester

View full rent data for Rochester, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Rochester, PA?

Median rent in Rochester is $944 a month. A typical paramedic in Pennsylvania earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 21.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Rochester?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Pennsylvania (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $944/mo, which leaves a $372/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Pennsylvania works roughly 37.3 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $944.

Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a paramedic?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Harrisburg ($942/mo), Latrobe ($942/mo), Washington ($940/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 Rochester, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.