Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Kent, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.4% of gross income.

Kent rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Kent median rent
$1,958/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
39.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Kent's median rent of $1,958 exceeds that threshold by $469/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 68.4 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Kent, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA
$1,957/mo (39.4% of income)
Marysville, WA
$1,957/mo (39.4% of income)
Lynden, WA
$1,957/mo (39.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kent

View full rent data for Kent, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Kent, WA?

Median rent in Kent is $1,958 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 39.4% 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 Kent?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Kent's current median rent is $1,958/mo, which is $469/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 68.4 hours a month to cover Kent's median rent of $1,958.

Where is rent cheaper than Kent for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Bryn Mawr-Skyway ($1,957/mo), Marysville ($1,957/mo), Lynden ($1,957/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 Kent, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.