Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Johnson City, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37% of gross income.

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

Johnson City median rent
$1,507/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
37%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Johnson City's median rent of $1,507 exceeds that threshold by $284/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 64.1 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 Johnson City, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Millington, TN
$1,503/mo (36.9% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,502/mo (36.8% of income)
La Vergne, TN
$1,500/mo (36.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Johnson City

View full rent data for Johnson City, TN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Johnson City, TN?

Median rent in Johnson City is $1,507 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 37% 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 Johnson City?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Johnson City's current median rent is $1,507/mo, which is $284/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 64.1 hours a month to cover Johnson City's median rent of $1,507.

Where is rent cheaper than Johnson City for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Millington ($1,503/mo), Morristown ($1,502/mo), La Vergne ($1,500/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 Johnson City, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.