Can A Welder Afford Rent in Parkersburg, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.1% of gross income.

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

Parkersburg median rent
$877/mo
Welder salary (West Virginia)
$43,699/yr
Rent as % of income
24.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,642, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,092/mo in rent. Parkersburg's median rent of $877 leaves roughly $215/mo of headroom under that threshold. A welder works roughly 41.7 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 Parkersburg, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Princeton, WV
$871/mo (23.9% of income)
Princeton, WV
$870/mo (23.9% of income)
Princeton, WV
$869/mo (23.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Parkersburg

View full rent data for Parkersburg, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Parkersburg, WV?

Median rent in Parkersburg is $877 a month. A typical welder in West Virginia earns about $43,699 a year, which makes that rent 24.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a welder afford in Parkersburg?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in West Virginia (~$43,699/yr) supports up to $1,092 a month in rent. Parkersburg's current median rent is $877/mo, which leaves a $215/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a welder in West Virginia works roughly 41.7 hours a month to cover Parkersburg's median rent of $877.

Where is rent cheaper than Parkersburg for a welder?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Princeton ($871/mo), Princeton ($870/mo), Princeton ($869/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 Parkersburg, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.