Hilton Head Island Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Hilton Head Island, SC: $21.08/hr median hourly wage, $43,850 median annual salary, cost of living index 118.5, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and South Carolina taxes.
Hilton Head Island Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Hilton Head Island, SC is $21.08/hr,and the median annual wage is $43,850. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.07/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $29.93/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan statistical area (81,920 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Hilton Head Island shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$43,850
$21.08/hr
Cost of Living
118.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3%
rate
Hilton Head Island, SC Overview
Population
40,000
Median Salary
$43,850
Average Salary
$54,860
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$520,000
Median Rent
$2,100/mo
Job Growth
+1.6%
Sales Tax
6%
Hilton Head Island is located in South Carolina with a population of 40,000. The median annual wage across all occupations is $43,850 ($21.08/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro), which is $7,130 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 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.6%.
Hilton Head Island Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Hilton Head Island, SC built around the $43,850 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, 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 | $27,187 | $13.07/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $43,850 | $21.08/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $62,267 | $29.93/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $78,053 | $37.52/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.
Hilton Head Island Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Hilton Head Island, SC, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$36,530
$3,044.16/month · $1,405.00/biweekly · Effective Rate: 16.7%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,405.00 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
$43,850
Federal Tax
-$3,082
State Tax
-$884
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,355
Net Pay
$36,530
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,654.17 | $43,850.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$256.83 | -$3,082.00 |
| South Carolina State Tax (2.01% eff.) | -$73.63 | -$883.55 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$226.56 | -$2,718.70 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$52.99 | -$635.83 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,044.16 | $36,529.93 |
Salary Comparison: Hilton Head Island vs Other Cities
See how Hilton Head Island's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $43,850 | 118.5 | $37,004 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Youngstown, OH | $43,800 | 78 | $56,154 |
| Warren, OH | $43,800 | 87.7 | $49,943 |
| Boardman, OH | $43,800 | 80.3 | $54,545 |
| Austintown, OH | $43,800 | 80.7 | $54,275 |
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 Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island's cost of living index is 118.5 (national average = 100). Living in Hilton Head Island is 18.5% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$520,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Annual Rent Cost
$25,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $36,530 annual take-home pay in Hilton Head Island has the purchasing power of approximately $30,827 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $51,962 in Hilton Head Island to match a $43,850 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $43,850.
Salary Tips for Hilton Head Island 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. Hilton Head Island's top industries include Automotive, Tourism, Military. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $43,850 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 Hilton Head Island salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, 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 Hilton Head Island indexed at 118.5.
- Median salary: $43,850 annual, $21.08 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC MSA (81,920 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $54,860 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Hilton Head Island was $57,882.
- Tax burden reflects South Carolina 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 5.21%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Hilton Head Island: 3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Automotive, Tourism, Military, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.6% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for South Carolina.
- Housing context: median home price $520,000, median rent $2,100/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Hilton Head Island, SC:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Hilton Head Island unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Hilton Head Island 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. Hilton Head Island'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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Hilton Head Island, SC?
The median hourly wage in Hilton Head Island, SC is $21.08 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $43,850. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.07/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $29.93/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Hilton Head Island, SC?
The median salary in Hilton Head Island, SC is $43,850 per year, or $21.08 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area). The BLS mean salary is $54,860. This is $7,130 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Hilton Head Island, SC?
Hilton Head Island's cost of living index is 118.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 18.5% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $520,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,100.
What are the best industries in Hilton Head Island?
The top industries in Hilton Head Island, SC include Automotive, Tourism, Military. The city has a job growth rate of 1.6% and an unemployment rate of 3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $43,850.
How does Hilton Head Island's salary compare to other cities?
Hilton Head Island's median salary of $43,850 is 14.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 118.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $37,004.
What is the minimum wage in Hilton Head Island, SC?
The minimum wage in Hilton Head Island, 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.