Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Cleveland, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.3% of gross income.

Cleveland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Cleveland median rent
$1,439/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
35.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Cleveland's median rent of $1,439 exceeds that threshold by $216/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 61.2 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 Cleveland, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Morristown, TN
$1,434/mo (35.2% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,429/mo (35% of income)
Columbia, TN
$1,428/mo (35% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cleveland

View full rent data for Cleveland, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Cleveland, TN?

Median rent in Cleveland is $1,439 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 35.3% 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 Cleveland?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Cleveland's current median rent is $1,439/mo, which is $216/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 61.2 hours a month to cover Cleveland's median rent of $1,439.

Where is rent cheaper than Cleveland for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Morristown ($1,434/mo), Morristown ($1,429/mo), Columbia ($1,428/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 Cleveland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.