Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Arlington, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.2% of gross income.

Arlington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Arlington median rent
$2,334/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
57.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Arlington's median rent of $2,334 exceeds that threshold by $1,111/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 99.2 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 Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Germantown, TN
$2,319/mo (56.9% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,268/mo (55.6% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,257/mo (55.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington

View full rent data for Arlington, TN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Arlington, TN?

Median rent in Arlington is $2,334 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 57.2% 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 Arlington?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $2,334/mo, which is $1,111/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 99.2 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $2,334.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Germantown ($2,319/mo), Germantown ($2,268/mo), Germantown ($2,257/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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