Childcare Workers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $40,760 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Charleston earn between $28,870 and $37,280.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $32KMedian
- $37K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,350 | $2,779 | $16.03 |
| Median | $31,870 | $2,656 | $15.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,870 | $2,406 | $13.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,280 | $3,107 | $17.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Charleston earn 9% more than the South Carolina average ($30,600) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $33,350 | $31,870 | $26,620 | $40,760 | 1,860 |
| South Carolina | $30,600 | $29,650 | $22,020 | $37,720 | 10,660 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $33,350, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $28,612 a year, or $2,384 a month and $1,100 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 childcare workers? 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 $33,350 buys what about $33,032 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 13.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$33,350
- Hilton Head Island$31,220
- Spartanburg$30,280
- Columbia$30,150
- Myrtle Beach$29,820
- Greenville$28,590
- Sumter$27,860
- Florence$27,000
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Charleston?
$16.03 an hour on average, and $15.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $28,612 a year ($2,384 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,350.
Do childcare workers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 1.41, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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