Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Fife, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.8% of gross income.

Fife rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Fife median rent
$1,927/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
38.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Fife's median rent of $1,927 exceeds that threshold by $438/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 67.3 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 Fife, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Port Orchard, WA
$1,926/mo (38.8% of income)
Silverdale, WA
$1,926/mo (38.8% of income)
Oak Harbor, WA
$1,926/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fife

View full rent data for Fife, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Fife, WA?

Median rent in Fife is $1,927 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 38.8% 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 Fife?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Fife's current median rent is $1,927/mo, which is $438/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 67.3 hours a month to cover Fife's median rent of $1,927.

Where is rent cheaper than Fife for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Port Orchard ($1,926/mo), Silverdale ($1,926/mo), Oak Harbor ($1,926/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 Fife, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.