Electrical Engineers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,450 or more. The middle half of electrical engineers in Charleston earn between $82,950 and $137,340.
- $76K10th
- $83K25th
- $110KMedian
- $137K75th
- $162K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,440 | $9,537 | $55.02 |
| Median | $110,030 | $9,169 | $52.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,950 | $6,912 | $39.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $137,340 | $11,445 | $66.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electrical Engineers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Electrical engineers in Charleston earn 9% more than the South Carolina average ($104,580) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($125,100). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $120,630.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $114,440 | $110,030 | $75,540 | $162,450 | 590 |
| South Carolina | $104,580 | $98,440 | $69,260 | $156,330 | 3,490 |
| United States | $125,100 | $120,630 | $76,550 | $184,300 | 198,750 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electrical Engineers salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $114,440, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $84,342 a year, or $7,029 a month and $3,244 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 electrical engineers? 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 $114,440 buys what about $113,350 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Electrical Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$114,440
- Greenville$111,350
- Florence$109,120
- Spartanburg$108,840
- Columbia$108,190
- Sumter$98,790
- Hilton Head Island$92,690
Highest-paying cities for electrical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($189,370).
- San Jose, CA$189,370
- San Francisco, CA$162,170
- Albuquerque, NM$158,230
- Austin, TX$157,930
- Manchester, NH$149,130
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Electrical Engineers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do electrical engineers make an hour in Charleston?
$55.02 an hour on average, and $52.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electrical engineers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electrical engineers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $84,342 a year ($7,029 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,440.
Do electrical engineers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($125,100).
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 17-2071; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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