Can A Plumber Afford Rent in Martinsburg, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.7% of gross income.

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

Martinsburg median rent
$1,651/mo
Plumber salary (West Virginia)
$57,035/yr
Rent as % of income
34.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,753, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,426/mo in rent. Martinsburg's median rent of $1,651 exceeds that threshold by $225/mo, putting a plumber salary into the rent-burdened range here. A plumber works roughly 60.2 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 Martinsburg, which improves the affordability math on a plumber salary:

Morgantown, WV
$1,562/mo (32.9% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,539/mo (32.4% of income)
Bridgeport, WV
$1,521/mo (32% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Martinsburg

View full rent data for Martinsburg, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a plumber afford rent in Martinsburg, WV?

Median rent in Martinsburg is $1,651 a month. A typical plumber in West Virginia earns about $57,035 a year, which makes that rent 34.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a plumber afford in Martinsburg?

Using the 30% rule, a plumber salary in West Virginia (~$57,035/yr) supports up to $1,426 a month in rent. Martinsburg's current median rent is $1,651/mo, which is $225/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a plumber in West Virginia works roughly 60.2 hours a month to cover Martinsburg's median rent of $1,651.

Where is rent cheaper than Martinsburg for a plumber?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Morgantown ($1,562/mo), Morgantown ($1,539/mo), Bridgeport ($1,521/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 Martinsburg, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.