Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Charleston, SC
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $55,150 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,341 take-home, or $3,695 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,438
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,419
- Medicare (1.45%)$800
- South Carolina income tax$2,152
- Take-home pay$44,341
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,590 | $20.00 | $34,259 | $2,855 |
| 25th percentile | $48,300 | $23.22 | $39,248 | $3,271 |
| Median (50th) | $55,150 | $26.51 | $44,341 | $3,695 |
| 75th percentile | $66,260 | $31.86 | $52,601 | $4,383 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,550 | $37.28 | $59,891 | $4,991 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,150 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 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $44,341 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,919 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #119 of 134 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $81,790 | $63,527 | $69,367 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $63,070 | $52,857 | $57,341 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $60,820 | $51,049 | $56,326 |
| 4 | Iowa City, IA | $61,960 | $50,262 | $54,926 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $60,410 | $49,841 | $54,497 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $58,900 | $49,506 | $54,480 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,900 | $47,920 | $53,865 |
| 8 | Youngstown, OH | $56,810 | $47,047 | $53,833 |
| 119 | Charleston, SC | $55,150 | $44,341 | $43,919 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 134 metros →
About the job: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers’ license.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $53,080
- Spartanburg, SC — $50,700
- Columbia, SC — $51,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Charleston, SC?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $55,150 a year, or about $26.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,300 and $66,260.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $55,150 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $44,341 a year ($3,695 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,152 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,919 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #119 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver 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) — 44% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,890
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,090
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,620