Can An Electrician Afford Rent in Morgantown, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.1% of gross income.

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

Morgantown median rent
$1,539/mo
Electrician salary (West Virginia)
$59,415/yr
Rent as % of income
31.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,951, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,485/mo in rent. Morgantown's median rent of $1,539 exceeds that threshold by $54/mo, putting an electrician salary into the rent-burdened range here. An electrician works roughly 53.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and an electrician salary

Electrician pay is competitive with many four-year-degree occupations and covers comfortable rent across most US metros. Union journeymen in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean once overtime and benefits are counted, which expands affordability further. At the national-average electrician salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,748 a month in rent. The per-city pages show where rent stays in range and where it begins to pinch.

Cheaper rent nearby

These West Virginia cities have lower median rent than Morgantown, which improves the affordability math on an electrician salary:

Martinsburg, WV
$1,536/mo (31% of income)
Martinsburg, WV
$1,533/mo (31% of income)
Martinsburg, WV
$1,527/mo (30.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morgantown

View full rent data for Morgantown, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can an electrician afford rent in Morgantown, WV?

Median rent in Morgantown is $1,539 a month. A typical electrician in West Virginia earns about $59,415 a year, which makes that rent 31.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can an electrician afford in Morgantown?

Using the 30% rule, an electrician salary in West Virginia (~$59,415/yr) supports up to $1,485 a month in rent. Morgantown's current median rent is $1,539/mo, which is $54/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does an electrician work to cover rent in Morgantown?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, an electrician in West Virginia works roughly 53.9 hours a month to cover Morgantown's median rent of $1,539.

Where is rent cheaper than Morgantown for an electrician?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Martinsburg ($1,536/mo), Martinsburg ($1,533/mo), Martinsburg ($1,527/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an electrician salary.

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