Machinists Salary in Charleston, SC

Machinists pay range in Charleston

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,160 or more. The middle half of machinists in Charleston earn between $48,070 and $67,280.

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Machinists pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.

Machinists in Charleston earn 4% more than the South Carolina average ($57,030) and about the same as the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $58,750.

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Machinists salary after taxes in Charleston

On the average salary of $59,370, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $48,263 a year, or $4,022 a month and $1,856 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

South Carolina paycheck calculator: try your own salary

Is Charleston a good place for machinists? 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 $59,370 buys what about $58,804 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $59,370 is worth in another city

Machinists salary in other South Carolina cities

Charleston ranks 1st of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Machinists salaries in South Carolina

Highest-paying cities for machinists

Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).

Machinists salary by city

Related jobs in Charleston

• Tool and Die Makers$70,530 a year
• Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,140 a year
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,590 a year
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,210 a year
• Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$53,570 a year
• Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,680 a year
• Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,380 a year
• Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,520 a year

Average salary in Charleston and every job