Can A Welder Afford Rent in Fairmont, WV?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.3% of gross income.

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

Fairmont median rent
$1,250/mo
Welder salary (West Virginia)
$43,699/yr
Rent as % of income
34.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,642, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,092/mo in rent. Fairmont's median rent of $1,250 exceeds that threshold by $158/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 59.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a welder salary

Welder pay tracks the US median household income closely. Pipeline and underwater welders earn materially more. At the national-average welder salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,285 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (34.2% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,247/mo (34.2% of income)
Morgantown, WV
$1,244/mo (34.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fairmont

View full rent data for Fairmont, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Fairmont, WV?

Median rent in Fairmont is $1,250 a month. A typical welder in West Virginia earns about $43,699 a year, which makes that rent 34.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a welder afford in Fairmont?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in West Virginia (~$43,699/yr) supports up to $1,092 a month in rent. Fairmont's current median rent is $1,250/mo, which is $158/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a welder in West Virginia works roughly 59.5 hours a month to cover Fairmont's median rent of $1,250.

Where is rent cheaper than Fairmont for a welder?

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 welder 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.