What is the average salary in Charleston, SC?

$63,520a year

Average yearly pay across 515 jobs with official data in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, weighted by employment. Each job below shows its median.

Hourly: $30.54
Jobs with data: 515
Workers counted: 381,130

Highest paying jobs

Median yearly pay.

Anesthesiologist	$308,900
General Internal Medicine Physician	$303,700
Family Medicine Physician	$255,700
Nurse Anesthetist	$228,700
Dermatologist	$207,000
Chief Executive	$197,200
Architectural and Engineering Manager	$174,000
Advertising and Promotions Manager	$170,000
Computer and Information Systems Manager	$167,000
Physician	$163,900

Most common jobs

Median yearly pay.

Retail Salesperson	$34,090
Fast Food and Counter Worker	$28,500
Registered Nurse	$92,800
Waiter and Waitress	$19,340
Laborer and Freight	$38,090
Cashier	$30,130
Customer Service Representative	$44,000
Office Clerk	$39,250
Cook	$36,710
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver	$55,150

Management

Administrative Services Manager$125,700
Advertising and Promotions Manager$170,000
Architectural and Engineering Manager$174,000
Chief Executive$197,200
Compensation and Benefits Manager$150,800
Computer and Information Systems Manager$167,000
Construction Manager$107,600
Education Administrator$104,400
Education Administrator$106,800
Education Administrator$65,850
Education and Childcare Administrator$56,670
Emergency Management Director$94,330
Entertainment and Recreation Manager$81,470
Facilities Manager$106,300
Financial Manager$147,200
Food Service Manager$75,700
Fundraising Manager$112,700
General and Operations Manager$109,300
Human Resources Manager$127,100
Industrial Production Manager$124,100
Lodging Manager$67,970
Manager$136,400
Marketing Manager$138,800
Medical and Health Services Manager$122,000
Natural Sciences Manager$132,700
Property$63,450
Public Relations Manager$103,000
Purchasing Manager$138,300
Sales Manager$139,800
Social and Community Service Manager$79,130
Training and Development Manager$121,800
Transportation$100,600

Business and financial operations

Accountant and Auditor$79,350
Budget Analyst$79,440
Business Operations Specialist$79,110
Buyer and Purchasing Agent$82,240
Claims Adjuster$81,330
Compensation$67,970
Compliance Officer$86,260
Cost Estimator$73,130
Credit Analyst$83,010
Credit Counselor$47,690
Financial and Investment Analyst$93,960
Financial Examiner$159,000
Financial Risk Specialist$96,050
Financial Specialist$94,520
Fundraiser$73,630
Human Resources Specialist$70,580
Insurance Underwriter$79,570
Labor Relations Specialist$78,050
Loan Officer$65,580
Logistician$82,780
Management Analyst$104,700
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$65,650
Meeting$53,990
Personal Financial Advisor$125,700
Project Management Specialist$94,730
Property Appraiser and Assessor$62,420
Tax Examiner and Collector$76,880
Tax Preparer$62,350
Training and Development Specialist$70,680

Computer and mathematical

Computer and Information Research Scientist$126,900
Computer Network Architect$137,900
Computer Network Support Specialist$81,990
Computer Occupation$131,600
Computer Programmer$107,800
Computer Systems Analyst$103,300
Computer User Support Specialist$52,590
Database Administrator$98,180
Database Architect$129,600
Information Security Analyst$110,300
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$97,480
Operations Research Analyst$104,200
Software Developer$132,200
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester$99,250
Web and Digital Interface Designer$96,190
Web Developer$82,740

Architecture and engineering

Aerospace Engineer$137,000
Architect$102,900
Architectural and Civil Drafter$68,460
Cartographer and Photogrammetrist$64,290
Chemical Engineer$129,100
Civil Engineer$98,740
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$55,990
Computer Hardware Engineer$133,400
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician$86,370
Electrical and Electronics Drafter$79,990
Electrical Engineer$110,000
Electronics Engineer$135,400
Engineer$124,300
Engineering Technologist and Technician$94,520
Environmental Engineer$86,670
Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician$72,090
Health and Safety Engineer$123,100
Industrial Engineer$110,800
Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$71,160
Landscape Architect$99,330
Materials Engineer$131,100
Mechanical Drafter$77,670
Mechanical Engineer$110,800
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician$72,330
Nuclear Engineer$129,600
Surveying and Mapping Technician$47,880
Surveyor$63,680

Life, physical, and social science

Atmospheric and Space Scientist$82,240
Biological Scientist$94,520
Biological Technician$61,640
Chemical Technician$63,050
Chemist$90,070
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$65,000
Conservation Scientist$57,550
Environmental Science and Protection Technician$48,310
Environmental Scientist and Specialist$81,190
Forest and Conservation Technician$63,040
Geoscientist$71,500
Life$61,110
Medical Scientist$162,200
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$96,990
Occupational Health and Safety Technician$56,830
School Psychologist$75,390
Social Science Research Assistant$63,440
Social Scientist and Related Worker$81,330
Soil and Plant Scientist$77,090
Urban and Regional Planner$74,840
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$58,260

Community and social service

Child$52,310
Clergy$59,570
Community and Social Service Specialist$52,890
Community Health Worker$50,980
Educational$62,140
Health Education Specialist$77,740
Healthcare Social Worker$60,680
Marriage and Family Therapist$57,670
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$42,060
Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$56,230
Rehabilitation Counselor$38,210
Social and Human Service Assistant$43,240
Social Worker$99,340
Substance Abuse$53,260

Legal

Educational instruction and library

Adult Basic Education$41,600
Art$65,800
Atmospheric$76,500
Biological Science Teacher$82,300
Business Teacher$61,680
Career/Technical Education Teacher$64,430
Chemistry Teacher$81,610
Computer Science Teacher$78,240
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher$79,410
Curator$47,200
Economics Teacher$109,100
Education Teacher$81,870
Educational Instruction and Library Worker$63,130
Elementary School Teacher$61,020
Engineering Teacher$105,400
English Language and Literature Teacher$65,250
Foreign Language and Literature Teacher$67,630
Health Specialties Teacher$82,480
History Teacher$77,050
Instructional Coordinator$78,910
Kindergarten Teacher$59,580
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$61,900
Library Technician$44,620
Mathematical Science Teacher$77,580
Middle School Teacher$62,530
Nursing Instructor and Teacher$77,110
Physics Teacher$81,210
Political Science Teacher$78,010
Postsecondary Teacher$79,110
Preschool Teacher$35,710
Psychology Teacher$76,600
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teacher$78,240
Secondary School Teacher$65,280
Self-Enrichment Teacher$43,680
Social Sciences Teacher$76,130
Special Education Teacher$64,230
Special Education Teacher$63,340
Special Education Teacher$63,700
Substitute Teacher$42,640
Teacher and Instructor$76,400
Teaching Assistant$28,040
Tutor$31,910

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

Actor$66,350
Art Director$87,610
Audio and Video Technician$52,250
Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey$38,000
Broadcast Technician$57,190
Coach and Scout$47,320
Commercial and Industrial Designer$58,690
Editor$63,370
Floral Designer$37,900
Graphic Designer$61,450
Interior Designer$72,400
Interpreter and Translator$64,550
Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$38,580
Musician and Singer$27,270
News Analyst$48,020
Photographer$56,890
Producer and Director$61,280
Public Relations Specialist$63,780
Technical Writer$88,610
Writer and Author$78,000

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Anesthesiologist$308,900
Athletic Trainer$62,690
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$60,110
Chiropractor$76,750
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$58,050
Dental Hygienist$94,570
Dentist$121,100
Dermatologist$207,000
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$88,080
Dietitian and Nutritionist$76,550
Emergency Medical Technician$44,630
Family Medicine Physician$255,700
General Internal Medicine Physician$303,700
Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar$44,530
Health Technologist and Technician$44,840
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Worker$69,620
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse$64,100
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist$85,270
Medical Records Specialist$61,950
Nuclear Medicine Technologist$99,620
Nurse Anesthetist$228,700
Nurse Practitioner$127,800
Occupational Therapist$98,530
Ophthalmic Medical Technician$46,790
Optician$47,900
Optometrist$154,700
Paramedic$58,190
Pharmacist$146,000
Pharmacy Technician$45,690
Physical Therapist$101,600
Physician$163,900
Physician Assistant$128,900
Psychiatric Technician$45,670
Radiation Therapist$98,370
Radiologic Technologist and Technician$72,730
Registered Nurse$92,800
Respiratory Therapist$79,410
Speech-Language Pathologist$98,790
Surgical Assistant$58,710
Surgical Technologist$59,920
Veterinarian$122,100
Veterinary Technologist and Technician$41,980

Healthcare support

Dental Assistant$49,040
Healthcare Support Worker$51,990
Home Health and Personal Care Aide$34,100
Massage Therapist$62,140
Medical Assistant$45,600
Medical Equipment Preparer$46,890
Medical Transcriptionist$34,650
Nursing Assistant$38,810
Occupational Therapy Assistant$75,770
Pharmacy Aide$36,290
Phlebotomist$39,820
Physical Therapist Aide$34,110
Physical Therapist Assistant$62,270
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$37,660

Protective service

Bailiff$38,010
Correctional Officer and Jailer$52,300
Crossing Guard and Flagger$73,990
Detective and Criminal Investigator$78,410
Fire Inspector and Investigator$62,180
Firefighter$46,830
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$58,720
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$73,280
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$81,800
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$51,800
Lifeguard$33,170
Parking Enforcement Worker$46,550
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$60,570
Private Detective and Investigator$39,060
Protective Service Worker$51,890
School Bus Monitor$33,120
Security Guard$36,620
Transportation Security Screener$61,110

Food preparation and serving

Bartender$19,630
Chef and Head Cook$74,210
Cook$32,380
Cook$36,990
Cook$36,710
Cook$32,020
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$26,410
Dishwasher$31,800
Fast Food and Counter Worker$28,500
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker$43,620
Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker$22,230
Food Preparation Worker$36,220
Food Server$33,970
Host and Hostess$29,140
Waiter and Waitress$19,340

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker$47,340
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping$62,090
Janitor and Cleaner$35,240
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker$37,720
Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner$33,990
Pest Control Worker$43,530
Pesticide Handler$40,490
Tree Trimmer and Pruner$43,730

Personal care and service

Amusement and Recreation Attendant$29,730
Animal Caretaker$35,000
Baggage Porter and Bellhop$24,950
Childcare Worker$31,870
Concierge$37,980
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,280
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$53,620
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker$46,270
Hairdresser$34,860
Locker Room$49,390
Manicurist and Pedicurist$34,850
Mortician$37,980
Personal Care and Service Worker$47,320
Recreation Worker$36,550
Residential Advisor$34,090
Skincare Specialist$41,300
Tour and Travel Guide$35,430
Usher$30,410

Sales and related

Advertising Sales Agent$80,410
Cashier$30,130
Counter and Rental Clerk$38,910
Demonstrator and Product Promoter$40,160
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Worker$73,450
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Worker$49,690
Insurance Sales Agent$78,890
Parts Salesperson$36,700
Real Estate Sales Agent$60,110
Retail Salesperson$34,090
Sale and Related Worker$52,170
Sales Engineer$124,900
Sales Representative$132,800
Sales Representative$64,120
Sales Representatives of Service$62,600
Security$58,120
Travel Agent$34,640

Office and administrative support

Bill and Account Collector$44,870
Billing and Posting Clerk$46,460
Bookkeeping$50,400
Brokerage Clerk$60,200
Cargo and Freight Agent$57,560
Courier and Messenger$39,860
Court$46,640
Credit Authorizer$41,220
Customer Service Representative$44,000
Data Entry Keyer$41,560
Dispatcher$48,200
Eligibility Interviewer$43,200
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$65,470
File Clerk$44,830
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker$65,910
Hotel$33,860
Human Resources Assistant$47,840
Information and Record Clerk$51,630
Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk$48,170
Interviewer$38,860
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$50,520
Library Assistant$39,050
Loan Interviewer and Clerk$48,060
Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator$34,510
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant$44,640
Meter Reader$50,570
Office Clerk$39,250
Order Clerk$45,300
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$53,930
Postal Service Clerk$64,670
Postal Service Mail Carrier$59,880
Postal Service Mail Sorter$57,430
Procurement Clerk$49,350
Production$58,690
Public Safety Telecommunicator$49,240
Receptionist and Information Clerk$37,220
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk$45,020
Secretary and Administrative Assistant$47,750
Shipping$45,290
Switchboard Operator$36,890
Teller$45,430
Weigher$48,410

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Farmworker and Laborer$35,110

Construction and extraction

Brickmason and Blockmason$48,690
Carpenter$50,380
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$52,560
Construction and Building Inspector$60,140
Construction Laborer$43,630
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer$38,670
Electrician$59,010
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$77,470
Floor Layer$52,000
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$49,420
Helper$43,840
Helpers--Carpenter$37,870
Helpers--Electrician$44,630
Helpers--Pipelayer$43,010
Highway Maintenance Worker$48,950
Insulation Worker$40,120
Insulation Worker$48,540
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$50,640
Painter$47,510
Paving$39,130
Pipelayer$48,250
Plumber$57,360
Roofer$48,040
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner$47,220
Sheet Metal Worker$59,650
Structural Iron and Steel Worker$57,780

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician$81,690
Audiovisual Equipment Installer and Repairer$59,560
Automotive Body and Related Repairer$63,080
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$47,600
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$49,120
Avionics Technician$84,930
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,000
Computer$43,320
Control and Valve Installer and Repairer$47,790
Electrical and Electronics Repairer$88,130
Electrical and Electronics Repairer$87,090
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$75,570
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanic$77,300
Heating$58,410
Helpers--Installation$37,130
Home Appliance Repairer$47,600
Industrial Machinery Mechanic$60,950
Installation$45,670
Maintenance and Repair Worker$48,540
Maintenance Worker$75,190
Medical Equipment Repairer$48,440
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic$63,080
Motorboat Mechanic and Service Technician$49,620
Motorcycle Mechanic$56,510
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic$50,840
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairer$54,300
Rigger$51,020
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer$61,960
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer$59,730
Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer$59,790
Tire Repairer and Changer$36,220

Production

Baker$39,070
Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,970
Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter$48,380
Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender$57,410
Chemical Plant and System Operator$67,540
Coating$62,280
Coil Winder$60,320
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$76,710
Cutting$37,880
Electrical$47,000
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter$47,970
Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator$49,270
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$79,990
Food and Tobacco Roasting$45,110
Food Processing Worker$38,560
Grinding$51,930
Helpers--Production Worker$40,800
Inspector$50,470
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$33,790
Machinist$59,280
Meat$39,470
Metal Worker and Plastic Worker$52,180
Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender$39,180
Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator$48,180
Mixing and Blending Machine Setter$49,620
Molding$46,760
Multiple Machine Tool Setter$44,630
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$42,850
Painting$47,360
Plating Machine Setter$45,520
Power Distributor and Dispatcher$88,150
Power Plant Operator$79,900
Presser$30,860
Printing Press Operator$42,540
Production Worker$40,350
Rolling Machine Setter$38,840
Sawing Machine Setter$38,890
Separating$49,040
Sewing Machine Operator$38,110
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$71,950
Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$49,350
Tailor$46,230
Textile$47,720
Textile Cutting Machine Setter$37,210
Tool and Die Maker$74,320
Upholsterer$44,980
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$51,790
Welder$56,060
Welding$66,570
Woodworker$40,090
Woodworking Machine Setter$42,490

Transportation and material moving

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor$80,140
Airfield Operations Specialist$34,330
Ambulance Driver and Attendant$34,880
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$42,800
Bus Driver$46,460
Bus Driver$40,580
Captain$91,000
Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$35,310
Commercial Pilot$119,000
Crane and Tower Operator$80,880
Driver/Sales Worker$36,650
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker$63,440
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$55,150
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$46,890
Laborer and Freight$38,090
Light Truck Driver$38,300
Machine Feeder and Offbearer$34,400
Motor Vehicle Operator$29,590
Packer and Packager$29,200
Parking Attendant$34,530
Passenger Attendant$28,710
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$37,890
Sailor and Marine Oiler$59,100
Ship Engineer$98,450
Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$36,510
Stocker and Order Filler$36,620

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary in Charleston, SC?

About $63,520 a year ($30.54 an hour): the average of the 515 jobs with official data, weighted by how many people do each one.

What are the highest paying jobs in Charleston, SC?

Anesthesiologist ($308,900), General Internal Medicine Physician ($303,700), Family Medicine Physician ($255,700).

What are the most common jobs in Charleston, SC?

Retail Salesperson (11,930 jobs), Fast Food and Counter Worker (10,850 jobs), Registered Nurse (9,760 jobs).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.