Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Yakima, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.6% of gross income.

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

Yakima median rent
$1,369/mo
Paramedic salary (Washington)
$59,562/yr
Rent as % of income
27.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,964, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,489/mo in rent. Yakima's median rent of $1,369 leaves roughly $120/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 47.8 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 Yakima, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Richland, WA
$1,368/mo (27.6% of income)
Vancouver, WA
$1,355/mo (27.3% of income)
Longview, WA
$1,354/mo (27.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Yakima

View full rent data for Yakima, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Yakima, WA?

Median rent in Yakima is $1,369 a month. A typical paramedic in Washington earns about $59,562 a year, which makes that rent 27.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Yakima?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Washington (~$59,562/yr) supports up to $1,489 a month in rent. Yakima's current median rent is $1,369/mo, which leaves a $120/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a paramedic in Washington works roughly 47.8 hours a month to cover Yakima's median rent of $1,369.

Where is rent cheaper than Yakima for a paramedic?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Richland ($1,368/mo), Vancouver ($1,355/mo), Longview ($1,354/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 Yakima, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.