Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Dickson, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.6% of gross income.

Dickson rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Dickson median rent
$1,574/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
38.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Dickson's median rent of $1,574 exceeds that threshold by $351/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 66.9 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 Dickson, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Tullahoma, TN
$1,573/mo (38.6% of income)
Hendersonville, TN
$1,572/mo (38.6% of income)
Millington, TN
$1,572/mo (38.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dickson

View full rent data for Dickson, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Dickson, TN?

Median rent in Dickson is $1,574 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 38.6% 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 Dickson?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Dickson's current median rent is $1,574/mo, which is $351/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 66.9 hours a month to cover Dickson's median rent of $1,574.

Where is rent cheaper than Dickson for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Tullahoma ($1,573/mo), Hendersonville ($1,572/mo), Millington ($1,572/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 Dickson, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.