Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Oakland, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51% of gross income.

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

Oakland median rent
$2,080/mo
Paramedic salary (Tennessee)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
51%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Oakland's median rent of $2,080 exceeds that threshold by $857/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 88.4 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 Oakland, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Mount Juliet, TN
$2,073/mo (50.8% of income)
Mount Juliet, TN
$2,068/mo (50.7% of income)
Mount Juliet, TN
$2,067/mo (50.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oakland

View full rent data for Oakland, TN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Oakland, TN?

Median rent in Oakland is $2,080 a month. A typical paramedic in Tennessee earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 51% 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 Oakland?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Tennessee (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Oakland's current median rent is $2,080/mo, which is $857/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Tennessee works roughly 88.4 hours a month to cover Oakland's median rent of $2,080.

Where is rent cheaper than Oakland for a paramedic?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Mount Juliet ($2,073/mo), Mount Juliet ($2,068/mo), Mount Juliet ($2,067/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 Oakland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.