Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Tumwater, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.3% of gross income.

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

Tumwater median rent
$2,051/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
41.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Tumwater's median rent of $2,051 exceeds that threshold by $562/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 71.6 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 Tumwater, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Sumner, WA
$2,050/mo (41.3% of income)
Enumclaw, WA
$2,046/mo (41.2% of income)
Enumclaw, WA
$2,046/mo (41.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tumwater

View full rent data for Tumwater, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Tumwater, WA?

Median rent in Tumwater is $2,051 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 41.3% 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 Tumwater?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Tumwater's current median rent is $2,051/mo, which is $562/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 71.6 hours a month to cover Tumwater's median rent of $2,051.

Where is rent cheaper than Tumwater for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Sumner ($2,050/mo), Enumclaw ($2,046/mo), Enumclaw ($2,046/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 Tumwater, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.