Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Ferndale, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.8% of gross income.

Ferndale rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Ferndale median rent
$2,023/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
40.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Ferndale's median rent of $2,023 exceeds that threshold by $534/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 70.6 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Ferndale, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Ridgefield, WA
$2,022/mo (40.7% of income)
Tukwila, WA
$2,022/mo (40.7% of income)
Mount Vernon, WA
$2,022/mo (40.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ferndale

View full rent data for Ferndale, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Ferndale, WA?

Median rent in Ferndale is $2,023 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 40.8% 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 Ferndale?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Ferndale's current median rent is $2,023/mo, which is $534/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 70.6 hours a month to cover Ferndale's median rent of $2,023.

Where is rent cheaper than Ferndale for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ridgefield ($2,022/mo), Tukwila ($2,022/mo), Mount Vernon ($2,022/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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