Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fairmont, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.

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

Fairmont median rent
$1,250/mo
Chef salary (West Virginia)
$54,528/yr
Rent as % of income
27.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,544, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,363/mo in rent. Fairmont's median rent of $1,250 leaves roughly $113/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 47.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (27.4% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (27.4% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,244/mo (27.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairmont

View full rent data for Fairmont, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Fairmont, WV?

Median rent in Fairmont is $1,250 a month. A typical chef in West Virginia earns about $54,528 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Fairmont?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in West Virginia (~$54,528/yr) supports up to $1,363 a month in rent. Fairmont's current median rent is $1,250/mo, which leaves a $113/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in West Virginia works roughly 47.7 hours a month to cover Fairmont's median rent of $1,250.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairmont for a chef?

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 chef 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.