Carpenters pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,730 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Charleston earn between $44,450 and $61,410.
- $37K10th
- $44K25th
- $50KMedian
- $61K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,750 | $4,562 | $26.32 |
| Median | $50,380 | $4,198 | $24.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,450 | $3,704 | $21.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,410 | $5,118 | $29.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Carpenters in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($55,350) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $54,750 | $50,380 | $36,750 | $78,730 | 1,240 |
| South Carolina | $55,350 | $50,670 | $36,010 | $79,040 | 6,950 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $54,750, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $44,857 a year, or $3,738 a month and $1,725 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 carpenters? 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 $54,750 buys what about $54,228 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($55,350).
- Spartanburg$55,350
- Greenville$55,230
- Hilton Head Island$55,160
- Charleston$54,750
- Florence$54,580
- Columbia$53,260
- Myrtle Beach$52,160
- Sumter$47,910
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Charleston: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Charleston?
$26.32 an hour on average, and $24.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Charleston?
About $44,857 a year ($3,738 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,750.
Do carpenters earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
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 47-2031; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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