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Jobs and Salaries in Charleston, SC

Estimated salaries for 70 common jobs in Charleston, with cost-of-living adjusted figures (1.02× US national average).

Top 5 highest-paying jobs in Charleston
#1 Anesthesiologist
Healthcare
$357,000
#2 Surgeon
Healthcare
$285,600
#3 Psychiatrist
Healthcare
$255,000
#4 Physician (Doctor)
Healthcare
$234,600
#5 Investment Banker
Finance
$204,000
Business
HR Manager
$132,600/yr
Project Manager
$100,000/yr
Recruiter
$64,300/yr
Office Manager
$55,100/yr
Administrative Assistant
$44,900/yr
Customer Service Rep
$38,800/yr
Design
UX Designer
$91,800/yr
Graphic Designer
$59,200/yr
Education
Teacher
$64,300/yr
Engineering
Electrical Engineer
$109,100/yr
Mechanical Engineer
$97,900/yr
Civil Engineer
$90,800/yr
Finance
Investment Banker
$204,000/yr
Financial Advisor
$95,900/yr
Underwriter
$86,700/yr
Auditor
$81,600/yr
Accountant
$80,600/yr
Loan Officer
$71,400/yr
Insurance Agent
$61,200/yr
Tax Preparer
$56,100/yr
Bookkeeper
$47,900/yr
Bank Teller
$36,700/yr
Healthcare
Anesthesiologist
$357,000/yr
Surgeon
$285,600/yr
Psychiatrist
$255,000/yr
Physician (Doctor)
$234,600/yr
Dentist
$167,300/yr
Pharmacist
$130,600/yr
Veterinarian
$112,200/yr
Physical Therapist
$97,900/yr
Occupational Therapist
$96,900/yr
Registered Nurse
$87,700/yr
Therapist (Counselor)
$51,000/yr
Hospitality
Restaurant Manager
$59,200/yr
Chef
$55,100/yr
Bartender
$32,600/yr
Server (Waiter/Waitress)
$30,600/yr
Legal
Lawyer
$137,700/yr
Paralegal
$60,200/yr
Marketing
Marketing Manager
$147,900/yr
Personal Services
Massage Therapist
$50,000/yr
Personal Trainer
$47,900/yr
Yoga Instructor
$40,800/yr
Hairdresser
$32,600/yr
Public Safety
Police Officer
$70,400/yr
Firefighter
$53,000/yr
Real Estate
Real Estate Agent
$53,000/yr
Retail
Retail Manager
$49,000/yr
Cashier
$29,600/yr
Sales
Sales Representative
$64,300/yr
Social Services
Social Worker
$56,100/yr
Tech
Machine Learning Engineer
$168,300/yr
Cloud Architect
$163,200/yr
Product Manager
$137,700/yr
Security Engineer
$132,600/yr
DevOps Engineer
$132,600/yr
Software Engineer
$126,500/yr
Mobile Developer
$112,200/yr
Database Administrator
$102,000/yr
Network Administrator
$91,800/yr
Data Analyst
$85,700/yr
Web Developer
$81,600/yr
Trades
Plumber
$62,200/yr
Electrician
$62,200/yr
Carpenter
$53,000/yr
HVAC Technician
$53,000/yr
Auto Mechanic
$47,900/yr
Construction Worker
$44,900/yr
Transportation
Pilot
$136,700/yr
Truck Driver
$55,100/yr

Working in Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina has a cost-of-living index of 1.02× US national average — meaning typical wages adjust accordingly. Salaries shown above represent the population median for each role; entry-level positions often pay 25–35% below median, and senior or specialized roles can earn 40–60%+ more.

Top earners in Charleston cluster in: Anesthesiologist, Surgeon, Psychiatrist. These tend to require advanced credentials or significant experience, but they also drive competition for talent — meaning recruiters in these fields are often willing to negotiate above-median offers.

Real take-home pay in Charleston

The salaries above are gross — before federal income tax (~14% effective at typical incomes), FICA (7.65%), South Carolina state tax (varies), and any city local tax. For a precise after-tax calculation in Charleston, use our Charleston Paycheck Calculator with your specific filing status, 401(k), and deductions.

Compare with other cities

Considering relocating? Use our Charleston cost of living comparison to see how Charleston stacks up against 49 other US metros. Higher-cost cities pay more nominal salary but cost-of-living often offsets the gain — sometimes a lower-COL city delivers better real purchasing power.

Related pages

Charleston Cost of Living — Charleston Paycheck Calculator — Salary Calculator — Best Cities for Software Engineers — Income Tax Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-paying job in Charleston?▾
Based on our cost-of-living-adjusted estimates, Anesthesiologists earn the most among the 70 roles we track in Charleston — approximately $357,000/year. Top 5: Anesthesiologist ($357,000); Surgeon ($285,600); Psychiatrist ($255,000); Physician (Doctor) ($234,600); Investment Banker ($204,000).
What's a typical professional salary in Charleston?▾
For a representative mid-tier role like Data Analyst, the estimated median in Charleston is approximately $85,700/year — about 2.0% above the US national equivalent. Real salaries vary significantly by experience, employer, and specific role.
How accurate are these salary estimates?▾
These are population-level estimates: US BLS national medians × Charleston's cost-of-living multiplier from BEA Regional Price Parities. Real wages vary 30%+ by experience, employer, and specific specialization. Cross-reference with Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and BLS OEWS for your specific role.
Is Charleston a good place to work?▾
Depends on the role and your priorities. Charleston ranks higher for jobs in industries concentrated locally, and lower-COL cities often deliver better real purchasing power than nominal-pay-leading metros. See our Charleston cost of living page for context.
What about taxes in Charleston?▾
Federal tax + FICA apply nationwide. South Carolina state tax depends on the state's structure. Some major metros (NYC, Philadelphia, Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, etc.) also levy a city income tax which reduces take-home further. Use our paycheck calculator for the city-specific calculation.