Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cashier Salary in Charleston, SC

Cashiers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $30,130 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,739 take-home, or $2,145 a month.

Median salary
$30,130
$14.49 per hour
Typical range
$22,820 – $36,630
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Charleston, SC
7,960
1.02× national concentration
▲5.2%
Pay trend: The median for cashiers in Charleston, SC rose from $28,630 (May 2024) to $30,130 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.8%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median cashier salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Cashier in Charleston, SC
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$25,739
per year · effective tax rate 14.6%
$2,145Monthly
$1,072Twice a month
$990Every 2 weeks
$12.37Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,436
  • Social Security (6.2%)$1,868
  • Medicare (1.45%)$437
  • South Carolina income tax$651
  • Take-home pay$25,739

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Cashier pay by experience in Charleston, SC

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$22,820$10.97$20,077$1,673
25th percentile$27,400$13.17$23,687$1,974
Median (50th)$30,130$14.49$25,739$2,145
75th percentile$34,590$16.63$29,055$2,421
90th percentile (top earners)$36,630$17.61$30,572$2,548

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $30,130 buys in Charleston, SC

Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cashier's $25,739 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,494 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,630
76% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,787
83% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$515
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Cashier jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).

Best-paying cities for cashiers, adjusted for cost of living

Charleston, SC ranks #192 of 202 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $44,210$37,703$33,926
2Rochester, MN $34,960$29,219$32,172
3San Jose, CA $42,960$35,432$32,088
4Fargo, ND $33,420$29,033$31,950
5Kennewick, WA $36,610$31,596$31,571
6Duluth, MN $33,020$27,764$31,277
7Spokane, WA $36,290$31,339$31,231
8St. Cloud, MN $32,480$27,359$31,220
192Charleston, SC$30,130$25,739$25,494

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 202 metros →

About the job: cashiers

Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-6.5% (declining)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Cashier salaries elsewhere in South Carolina

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cashier make in Charleston, SC?

The median cashier salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $30,130 a year, or about $14.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,400 and $34,590.

What is a cashier’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?

On the median $30,130 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $25,739 a year ($2,145 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $651 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.

Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a cashier?

Pay here is 8% below the national median of $32,880. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,494 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #192 of 202 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a cashier afford rent in Charleston, SC?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 76% of a median cashier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

Related jobs in Charleston, SC

Cost of living & all salaries in Charleston, SC →