Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in North Charleston, SC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.6% of gross income.

North Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

North Charleston median rent
$1,738/mo
Paramedic salary (South Carolina)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
44.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. North Charleston's median rent of $1,738 exceeds that threshold by $568/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 77.2 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than North Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Elgin, SC
$1,736/mo (44.5% of income)
Elgin, SC
$1,734/mo (44.5% of income)
Blythewood, SC
$1,734/mo (44.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Charleston

View full rent data for North Charleston, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in North Charleston, SC?

Median rent in North Charleston is $1,738 a month. A typical paramedic in South Carolina earns about $46,798 a year, which makes that rent 44.6% 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 North Charleston?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in South Carolina (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. North Charleston's current median rent is $1,738/mo, which is $568/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in South Carolina works roughly 77.2 hours a month to cover North Charleston's median rent of $1,738.

Where is rent cheaper than North Charleston for a paramedic?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Elgin ($1,736/mo), Elgin ($1,734/mo), Blythewood ($1,734/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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