Bartenders pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,790 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Charleston earn between $17,580 and $31,270.
- $15K10th
- $18K25th
- $20KMedian
- $31K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,940 | $2,328 | $13.43 |
| Median | $19,630 | $1,636 | $9.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $17,580 | $1,465 | $8.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $31,270 | $2,606 | $15.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Bartenders in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($28,440) and 32% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -43% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $27,940 | $19,630 | $15,080 | $61,790 | 3,110 |
| South Carolina | $28,440 | $19,370 | $15,080 | $59,430 | 10,680 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $27,940, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $24,361 a year, or $2,030 a month and $937 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $27,940 buys what about $27,674 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 15.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 6th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Columbia pays the most ($31,930).
- Columbia$31,930
- Florence$30,000
- Greenville$29,670
- Spartanburg$29,420
- Hilton Head Island$28,920
- Charleston$27,940
- Sumter$25,790
- Myrtle Beach$25,730
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Charleston: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Charleston?
$13.43 an hour on average, and $9.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $17,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Charleston?
About $24,361 a year ($2,030 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,940.
Do bartenders earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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