Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in State College, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43% of gross income.

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

State College median rent
$1,888/mo
Paramedic salary (Pennsylvania)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
43%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. State College's median rent of $1,888 exceeds that threshold by $572/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 74.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than State College, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Wyncote, PA
$1,887/mo (43% of income)
Whitehall, PA
$1,887/mo (43% of income)
North Wales, PA
$1,886/mo (43% of income)

Compare with full rent data for State College

View full rent data for State College, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in State College, PA?

Median rent in State College is $1,888 a month. A typical paramedic in Pennsylvania earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 43% 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 State College?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Pennsylvania (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. State College's current median rent is $1,888/mo, which is $572/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Pennsylvania works roughly 74.6 hours a month to cover State College's median rent of $1,888.

Where is rent cheaper than State College for a paramedic?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Wyncote ($1,887/mo), Whitehall ($1,887/mo), North Wales ($1,886/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 State College, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.