To take home four times the typical rent, a full-time job in West Virginia needs to pay from $19.76 an hour in Mercer County to $33.36 in Jefferson County, before taxes. The middle county is Marshall County at $22.03.
| County | Pay needed | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| Barbour County | $22.19/hr | $735/mo |
| Berkeley County | $28.26/hr | $920/mo |
| Boone County | $19.76/hr | $660/mo |
| Braxton County | $21.70/hr | $720/mo |
| Brooke County | $23.34/hr | $770/mo |
| Cabell County | $27.77/hr | $905/mo |
| Calhoun County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Clay County | $19.76/hr | $660/mo |
| Doddridge County | $22.03/hr | $730/mo |
| Fayette County | $22.03/hr | $730/mo |
| Gilmer County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Grant County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Greenbrier County | $24.65/hr | $810/mo |
| Hampshire County | $31.55/hr | $1,020/mo |
| Hancock County | $23.83/hr | $785/mo |
| Hardy County | $24.00/hr | $790/mo |
| Harrison County | $24.32/hr | $800/mo |
| Jackson County | $22.68/hr | $750/mo |
| Jefferson County | $33.36/hr | $1,075/mo |
| Kanawha County | $22.03/hr | $730/mo |
| Lewis County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Lincoln County | $21.54/hr | $715/mo |
| Logan County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Marion County | $24.00/hr | $790/mo |
| Marshall County | $22.03/hr | $730/mo |
| Mason County | $24.65/hr | $810/mo |
| McDowell County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Mercer County | $19.76/hr | $660/mo |
| Mineral County | $22.85/hr | $755/mo |
| Mingo County | $21.70/hr | $720/mo |
| Monongalia County | $27.28/hr | $890/mo |
| Monroe County | $22.03/hr | $730/mo |
| Morgan County | $20.47/hr | $682/mo |
| Nicholas County | $21.70/hr | $720/mo |
| Ohio County | $23.34/hr | $770/mo |
| Pendleton County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Pleasants County | $21.31/hr | $708/mo |
| Pocahontas County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Preston County | $24.00/hr | $790/mo |
| Putnam County | $24.98/hr | $820/mo |
| Raleigh County | $22.68/hr | $750/mo |
| Randolph County | $22.03/hr | $730/mo |
| Ritchie County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Roane County | $21.54/hr | $715/mo |
| Summers County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Taylor County | $25.31/hr | $830/mo |
| Tucker County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Tyler County | $21.70/hr | $720/mo |
| Upshur County | $22.35/hr | $740/mo |
| Wayne County | $26.29/hr | $860/mo |
| Webster County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Wetzel County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
| Wirt County | $22.68/hr | $750/mo |
| Wood County | $24.32/hr | $800/mo |
| Wyoming County | $21.38/hr | $710/mo |
The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent?