Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Onalaska, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

Onalaska rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Onalaska median rent
$1,412/mo
Paramedic salary (Wisconsin)
$50,521/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,210, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Onalaska's median rent of $1,412 exceeds that threshold by $149/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58.1 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Onalaska, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Waukesha, WI
$1,411/mo (33.5% of income)
West Allis, WI
$1,408/mo (33.4% of income)
Menomonee Falls, WI
$1,405/mo (33.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Onalaska

View full rent data for Onalaska, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Onalaska, WI?

Median rent in Onalaska is $1,412 a month. A typical paramedic in Wisconsin earns about $50,521 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 Onalaska?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Wisconsin (~$50,521/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Onalaska's current median rent is $1,412/mo, which is $149/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Wisconsin works roughly 58.1 hours a month to cover Onalaska's median rent of $1,412.

Where is rent cheaper than Onalaska for a paramedic?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Waukesha ($1,411/mo), West Allis ($1,408/mo), Menomonee Falls ($1,405/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Wisconsin state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Onalaska, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.