Charleston Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Charleston, SC: $23.63/hr median hourly wage, $49,150 median annual salary, cost of living index 105, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and South Carolina taxes.
Charleston Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Charleston, SC is $23.63/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,150. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.65/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.55/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area (394,170 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Charleston shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,150
$23.63/hr
Cost of Living
105
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Charleston, SC Overview
Population
150,227
Median Salary
$49,150
Average Salary
$64,260
Avg Commute
25 min
Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Rent
$1,500/mo
Job Growth
+2.8%
Sales Tax
9%
Charleston is located in South Carolina with a population of 150,227. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,150 ($23.63/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro), which is $1,830 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 25 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.8%.
Charleston Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Charleston, SC built around the $49,150 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,473 | $14.65/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,150 | $23.63/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $69,793 | $33.55/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,487 | $42.06/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Charleston Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Charleston, SC, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,512
$3,376.03/month · $1,558.17/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.6%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,558.17 take-home per paycheck after estimated South Carolina and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,150
Federal Tax
-$3,718
State Tax
-$1,160
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,760
Net Pay
$40,512
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,095.83 | $49,150.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$309.83 | -$3,718.00 |
| South Carolina State Tax (2.36% eff.) | -$96.64 | -$1,159.68 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$253.94 | -$3,047.30 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.39 | -$712.68 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,376.03 | $40,512.35 |
Salary Comparison: Charleston vs Other Cities
See how Charleston's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | $49,150 | 105 | $46,810 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| North Charleston, SC | $49,150 | 95 | $51,737 |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | $49,150 | 112.5 | $43,689 |
| Summerville, SC | $49,150 | 96.5 | $50,933 |
| Goose Creek, SC | $49,150 | 94.8 | $51,846 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Charleston
Charleston's cost of living index is 105 (national average = 100). Living in Charleston is 5% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Annual Rent Cost
$18,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,512 annual take-home pay in Charleston has the purchasing power of approximately $38,583 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $51,608 in Charleston to match a $49,150 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Charleston
Charleston's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,150.
Salary Tips for Charleston Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 5.21% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Charleston's top industries include Tourism, Technology, Aerospace. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,150 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Charleston salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Charleston indexed at 105.
- Median salary: $49,150 annual, $23.63 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA (394,170 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $64,260 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Charleston was $62,000.
- Tax burden reflects South Carolina 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 5.21%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Charleston: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Tourism, Technology, Aerospace, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for South Carolina.
- Housing context: median home price $380,000, median rent $1,500/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Charleston, SC:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Charleston unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Charleston QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, South Carolina, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Charleston's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent South Carolina labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Charleston, SC?
The median hourly wage in Charleston, SC is $23.63 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,150. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.65/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.55/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Charleston, SC?
The median salary in Charleston, SC is $49,150 per year, or $23.63 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area). The BLS mean salary is $64,260. This is $1,830 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Charleston, SC?
Charleston's cost of living index is 105 (national average = 100), meaning it is 5% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $380,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,500.
What are the best industries in Charleston?
The top industries in Charleston, SC include Tourism, Technology, Aerospace. The city has a job growth rate of 2.8% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,150.
How does Charleston's salary compare to other cities?
Charleston's median salary of $49,150 is 3.6% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 105), the real purchasing power is approximately $46,810.
What is the minimum wage in Charleston, SC?
The minimum wage in Charleston, SC is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.