Jobs, pay and daily life in Charleston, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Charleston is a city in South Carolina with 154,338 residents. The median household earns $92,414 a year and the median rent is $1,722 a month, which is 22.4% of the median household income. It is part of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area, where BLS counts 394,170 jobs.
Federal jobs in South Carolina (373) →State guide: South CarolinaCountry guide
There are 373 federal postings open in South Carolina (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in South Carolina →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 730 | 1.30 | $174,040 | $113,310 | $221,190 | +2% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 940 | 0.55 | $167,000 | $97,180 | $287,170 | -5% |
| Physicians, All Other | 1,370 | 1.57 | $163,900 | $17,950 | $471,010 | -38% |
| Financial Managers | 1,420 | 0.67 | $147,170 | $85,590 | $299,470 | -12% |
| Pharmacists | 920 | 1.12 | $145,950 | $112,460 | $167,920 | +4% |
| Sales Managers | 1,660 | 1.03 | $139,830 | $69,590 | $230,400 | -6% |
| Marketing Managers | 800 | 0.80 | $138,790 | $80,960 | $302,820 | -17% |
| Managers, All Other | 510 | 0.33 | $136,370 | $75,550 | $196,640 | -4% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 730 | 1.01 | $132,790 | $55,670 | $204,950 | +27% |
| Software Developers | 2,050 | 0.48 | $132,150 | $80,170 | $213,340 | -3% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 1,590 | 1.44 | $131,600 | $79,970 | $172,100 | +13% |
| Physician Assistants | 620 | 1.50 | $128,920 | $77,790 | $158,260 | -5% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,050 | 1.28 | $127,780 | $103,200 | $157,170 | -3% |
| Lawyers | 1,590 | 0.83 | $127,280 | $75,960 | $272,990 | -20% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 980 | 1.57 | $124,060 | $84,390 | $199,740 | -2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 2,220 | 1.46 | $121,990 | $67,320 | $216,360 | -2% |
| Industrial Engineers | 1,050 | 1.14 | $110,830 | $78,720 | $165,430 | +8% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 940 | 1.26 | $110,820 | $76,970 | $154,890 | +6% |
| Electrical Engineers | 590 | 1.18 | $110,030 | $75,540 | $162,450 | -9% |
| General and Operations Managers | 6,000 | 0.68 | $109,260 | $60,070 | $228,790 | +3% |
These figures are for the whole Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $49,150 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.2% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 19.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.6% |
| Retail trade | 9.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 8.0% |
| Manufacturing | 6.5% |
| Construction | 5.2% |
| Other services | 4.4% |
| Public administration | 4.1% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.2% |
| Information | 1.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.3% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 66.2% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Walk | 3.5% |
| Work from home | 19.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 12.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $92,414 |
| Income per person | $59,875 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,722 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 22.4% |
| Median home value | $509,700 |
| Homeowners | 55.6% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 101.0 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $49,150 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 6.00%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 96.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 58.3% |
| Born abroad | 6.0% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 66.8% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9.0 | 48 | 61 |
| Feb | 10.8 | 51 | 84 |
| Mar | 14.3 | 58 | 84 |
| Apr | 18.6 | 65 | 82 |
| May | 23.1 | 74 | 92 |
| Jun | 26.5 | 80 | 140 |
| Jul | 27.8 | 82 | 147 |
| Aug | 27.3 | 81 | 170 |
| Sep | 24.7 | 76 | 119 |
| Oct | 20.0 | 68 | 105 |
| Nov | 14.4 | 58 | 69 |
| Dec | 11.2 | 52 | 91 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston | SC | 8 mi | 119,913 | $62,956 | $1,430 |
| Savannah | GA | 91 mi | 147,898 | $57,137 | $1,382 |
| Columbia | SC | 100 mi | 139,643 | $55,529 | $1,204 |
| Augusta | GA | 127 mi | 201,528 | $55,485 | $1,142 |
| Wilmington | NC | 153 mi | 120,805 | $66,738 | $1,395 |
| Fayetteville | NC | 166 mi | 210,815 | $58,407 | $1,250 |
| Charlotte | NC | 172 mi | 943,474 | $86,416 | $1,720 |
| Jacksonville | FL | 199 mi | 1,009,831 | $72,389 | $1,568 |
| Athens | GA | 211 mi | 127,345 | $52,974 | $1,219 |
| Cary | NC | 214 mi | 179,306 | $134,905 | $1,738 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
154,338 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,722 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 22.4% of the median household income.
$92,414 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.2% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
South Carolina. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.