Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Arlington, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

Arlington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Arlington median rent
$1,468/mo
Paramedic salary (Texas)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. Arlington's median rent of $1,468 exceeds that threshold by $152/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Wylie, TX
$1,467/mo (33.4% of income)
The Colony, TX
$1,467/mo (33.4% of income)
Mesquite, TX
$1,467/mo (33.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington

View full rent data for Arlington, TX →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Arlington, TX?

Median rent in Arlington is $1,468 a month. A typical paramedic in Texas earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 Arlington?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Texas (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $1,468/mo, which is $152/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Texas works roughly 58 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $1,468.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for a paramedic?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Wylie ($1,467/mo), The Colony ($1,467/mo), Mesquite ($1,467/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Texas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Arlington, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.