Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Fairmont, WV?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.2% of gross income.

Fairmont rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

Fairmont median rent
$1,250/mo
Bartender salary (West Virginia)
$29,861/yr
Rent as % of income
50.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,488, and the 30% rule supports up to $747/mo in rent. Fairmont's median rent of $1,250 exceeds that threshold by $503/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 87.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Fairmont, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (50.1% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (50.1% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,244/mo (50% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairmont

View full rent data for Fairmont, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Fairmont, WV?

Median rent in Fairmont is $1,250 a month. A typical bartender in West Virginia earns about $29,861 a year, which makes that rent 50.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Fairmont?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in West Virginia (~$29,861/yr) supports up to $747 a month in rent. Fairmont's current median rent is $1,250/mo, which is $503/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Fairmont?

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a bartender in West Virginia works roughly 87.1 hours a month to cover Fairmont's median rent of $1,250.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairmont for a bartender?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Morgantown ($1,247/mo), Morgantown ($1,247/mo), Morgantown ($1,244/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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