Can A Chef Afford Rent in Parkersburg, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.3% of gross income.

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

Parkersburg median rent
$968/mo
Chef salary (West Virginia)
$54,528/yr
Rent as % of income
21.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,544, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,363/mo in rent. Parkersburg's median rent of $968 leaves roughly $395/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 36.9 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 Parkersburg, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Charleston, WV
$958/mo (21.1% of income)
Huntington, WV
$942/mo (20.7% of income)
Huntington, WV
$936/mo (20.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Parkersburg

View full rent data for Parkersburg, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Parkersburg, WV?

Median rent in Parkersburg is $968 a month. A typical chef in West Virginia earns about $54,528 a year, which makes that rent 21.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Parkersburg?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in West Virginia (~$54,528/yr) supports up to $1,363 a month in rent. Parkersburg's current median rent is $968/mo, which leaves a $395/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in West Virginia works roughly 36.9 hours a month to cover Parkersburg's median rent of $968.

Where is rent cheaper than Parkersburg for a chef?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Charleston ($958/mo), Huntington ($942/mo), Huntington ($936/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 Parkersburg, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.