Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in San Marcos, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32% of gross income.

San Marcos rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

San Marcos median rent
$1,404/mo
Paramedic salary (Texas)
$52,648/yr
Rent as % of income
32%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,387, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,316/mo in rent. San Marcos's median rent of $1,404 exceeds that threshold by $88/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 55.5 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 San Marcos, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Pflugerville, TX
$1,403/mo (32% of income)
Mesquite, TX
$1,403/mo (32% of income)
Richardson, TX
$1,402/mo (32% of income)

Compare with full rent data for San Marcos

View full rent data for San Marcos, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in San Marcos, TX?

Median rent in San Marcos is $1,404 a month. A typical paramedic in Texas earns about $52,648 a year, which makes that rent 32% 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 San Marcos?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Texas (~$52,648/yr) supports up to $1,316 a month in rent. San Marcos's current median rent is $1,404/mo, which is $88/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a paramedic in Texas works roughly 55.5 hours a month to cover San Marcos's median rent of $1,404.

Where is rent cheaper than San Marcos for a paramedic?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Pflugerville ($1,403/mo), Mesquite ($1,403/mo), Richardson ($1,402/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 San Marcos, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.