Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.2% of gross income.

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

Moses Lake median rent
$1,501/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
30.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Moses Lake's median rent of $1,501 exceeds that threshold by $12/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 52.4 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 Moses Lake, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Ocean Shores, WA
$1,500/mo (30.2% of income)
Walla Walla, WA
$1,500/mo (30.2% of income)
Spokane Valley, WA
$1,500/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moses Lake

View full rent data for Moses Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Median rent in Moses Lake is $1,501 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 30.2% 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 Moses Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Moses Lake's current median rent is $1,501/mo, which is $12/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Moses Lake's median rent of $1,501.

Where is rent cheaper than Moses Lake for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ocean Shores ($1,500/mo), Walla Walla ($1,500/mo), Spokane Valley ($1,500/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 Moses Lake, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.