Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Jefferson City, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Jefferson City rent: March 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Jefferson City median rent
$1,152/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Jefferson City's median rent of $1,152 leaves roughly $71/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 49 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 Jefferson City, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Athens, TN
$1,135/mo (27.8% of income)
Maryville, TN
$1,123/mo (27.5% of income)
Greeneville, TN
$1,117/mo (27.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jefferson City

View full rent data for Jefferson City, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Jefferson City, TN?

Median rent in Jefferson City is $1,152 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Jefferson City?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Jefferson City's current median rent is $1,152/mo, which leaves a $71/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 49 hours a month to cover Jefferson City's median rent of $1,152.

Where is rent cheaper than Jefferson City for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,135/mo), Maryville ($1,123/mo), Greeneville ($1,117/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 Jefferson City, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.