Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Sumter, SC?

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

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

Sumter median rent
$1,530/mo
Paramedic salary (South Carolina)
$46,798/yr
Rent as % of income
39.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,900, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,170/mo in rent. Sumter's median rent of $1,530 exceeds that threshold by $360/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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Sumter, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

North Myrtle Beach, SC
$1,528/mo (39.2% of income)
Rock Hill, SC
$1,527/mo (39.2% of income)
Cayce, SC
$1,527/mo (39.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sumter

View full rent data for Sumter, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Sumter, SC?

Median rent in Sumter is $1,530 a month. A typical paramedic in South Carolina earns about $46,798 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 Sumter?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in South Carolina (~$46,798/yr) supports up to $1,170 a month in rent. Sumter's current median rent is $1,530/mo, which is $360/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $22 an hour, a paramedic in South Carolina works roughly 68 hours a month to cover Sumter's median rent of $1,530.

Where is rent cheaper than Sumter for a paramedic?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include North Myrtle Beach ($1,528/mo), Rock Hill ($1,527/mo), Cayce ($1,527/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 Sumter, SC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.