The Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Charleston, SC (2026)
The average salary in the Charleston metro area is $64,260 a year and the median is $49,150: 4% below the US median and 6% above South Carolina's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $48,680, 291st of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $64,260US $69,770
- Median salary
- $49,150US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $23.63BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 101.0US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Charleston earn
| Percentile | Charleston area | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,350 | $27,070 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $36,510 | $34,630 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $49,150 | $46,490 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $77,460 | $70,340 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $115,790 | $103,010 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $64,260 | $59,280 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Charleston
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Charleston area at 101.0 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $100,960 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items101
- Housing (rents)119.8
- Goods96.3
- Utilities88.2
- Other services98.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 101 |
| Housing (rents) | 119.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Charleston
Mean annual wage in the Charleston area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Charleston area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $91,710 | $101,420 | -10% |
| Software Developer | $138,740 | $148,100 | -6% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $65,160 | $72,650 | -10% |
| Accountant | $91,850 | $94,750 | -3% |
| Electrician | $59,360 | $71,490 | -17% |
| Truck Driver | $57,950 | $59,710 | -3% |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,570 | $46,590 | -2% |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,760 | $37,310 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistant | $40,350 | $42,700 | -6% |
| General and Operations Manager | $132,160 | $134,940 | -2% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $52,790 | $53,780 | -2% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $37,270 | $38,730 | -4% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Charleston
BLS publishes estimates for 500 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Chief Executive$225,990
- 2IT Manager$181,020
- 3Architectural and Engineering Manager$180,210
- 4Financial Manager$172,870
- 5Marketing Manager$167,840
- 6Advertising and Promotions Manager$165,840
- 7Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$160,640
- 8Compensation and Benefits Manager$152,240
- 9Dentist$150,610
- 10Sales Manager$150,130
Jobs Charleston pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$160,640 · +37%
- 2Real Estate Agent$81,850 · +18%
- 3Insurance Sales Agent$93,370 · +15%
- 4Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$41,720 · +13%
- 5Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$135,080 · +13%
- 6Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic$51,380 · +12%
- 7Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender$58,590 · +11%
- 8First-Line Supervisor of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$58,840 · +10%
- 9Computer Network Support Specialist$89,940 · +10%
- 10Automotive Body and Related Repairer$64,730 · +8%
Compare
Other metro areas in South Carolina
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Charleston: FAQ
What is the average salary in Charleston?
Across all occupations in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $64,260 and the median is $49,150, 4% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 394,170 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Charleston?
Above $49,150 out-earns half of workers in the Charleston area; the top 25% start at $77,460 and the top 10% at $115,790. Prices run 1% above the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $100,960 here.
Is Charleston expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Charleston metro is 101.0 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 119.8, goods 96.3, utilities 88.2. At local prices the median wage is worth $48,680, 291st of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Charleston?
By mean annual wage: Chief Executive ($225,990), IT Manager ($181,020), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($180,210), Financial Manager ($172,870), Marketing Manager ($167,840) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).