Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.

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

Walla Walla median rent
$1,506/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
30.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506 exceeds that threshold by $17/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 52.6 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 Walla Walla, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,504/mo (30.3% of income)
Kent, WA
$1,504/mo (30.3% of income)
Auburn, WA
$1,503/mo (30.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Walla Walla

View full rent data for Walla Walla, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Median rent in Walla Walla is $1,506 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% 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 Walla Walla?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Walla Walla's current median rent is $1,506/mo, which is $17/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 52.6 hours a month to cover Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506.

Where is rent cheaper than Walla Walla for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,504/mo), Kent ($1,504/mo), Auburn ($1,503/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 Walla Walla, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.