Mechanical Engineers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $154,890 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Charleston earn between $90,050 and $133,580.
- $77K10th
- $90K25th
- $111KMedian
- $134K75th
- $155K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $113,940 | $9,495 | $54.78 |
| Median | $110,820 | $9,235 | $53.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $90,050 | $7,504 | $43.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,580 | $11,132 | $64.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($113,690) and about the same as the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $113,940 | $110,820 | $76,970 | $154,890 | 940 |
| South Carolina | $113,690 | $104,580 | $74,260 | $166,340 | 5,780 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $113,940, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $84,017 a year, or $7,001 a month and $3,231 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 mechanical 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 $113,940 buys what about $112,854 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 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.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 3rd of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Myrtle Beach pays the most ($115,250).
- Myrtle Beach$115,250
- Hilton Head Island$114,860
- Charleston$113,940
- Greenville$111,840
- Spartanburg$108,410
- Columbia$106,860
- Florence$106,480
- Sumter$102,760
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Charleston?
$54.78 an hour on average, and $53.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $90,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $84,017 a year ($7,001 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $113,940.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
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 17-2141; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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