Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Fairmont, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.6% of gross income.

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

Fairmont median rent
$1,170/mo
Plumber salary (West Virginia)
$57,035/yr
Rent as % of income
24.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,753, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,426/mo in rent. Fairmont's median rent of $1,170 leaves roughly $256/mo of headroom under that threshold. A plumber works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a plumber salary

Plumber pay sits comfortably above the US median household income and covers affordable rent in most US metros. At the national-average plumber salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,678 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local plumber-pay estimates so renters can see where the math works.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Morgantown, WV
$1,119/mo (23.5% of income)
South Charleston, WV
$1,088/mo (22.9% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,051/mo (22.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairmont

View full rent data for Fairmont, WV →

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Fairmont, WV?

Median rent in Fairmont is $1,170 a month. A typical plumber in West Virginia earns about $57,035 a year, which makes that rent 24.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Fairmont?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in West Virginia (~$57,035/yr) supports up to $1,426 a month in rent. Fairmont's current median rent is $1,170/mo, which leaves a $256/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a plumber in West Virginia works roughly 42.7 hours a month to cover Fairmont's median rent of $1,170.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairmont for a plumber?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Morgantown ($1,119/mo), South Charleston ($1,088/mo), Morgantown ($1,051/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a plumber 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.