Project Management Specialist Salary in Charleston, SC
Project Management Specialists in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $94,730 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,946 take-home, or $5,912 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,011
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,873
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,374
- South Carolina income tax$4,527
- Take-home pay$70,946
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,840 | $27.81 | $46,341 | $3,862 |
| 25th percentile | $74,410 | $35.77 | $57,870 | $4,822 |
| Median (50th) | $94,730 | $45.54 | $70,946 | $5,912 |
| 75th percentile | $127,530 | $61.31 | $91,938 | $7,662 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,070 | $72.15 | $105,992 | $8,833 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $94,730 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 project management specialist's $70,946 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,270 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charleston, SC has 1.3× the national concentration of project management specialist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #57 of 64 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $135,120 | $93,527 | $84,699 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $101,150 | $76,797 | $83,747 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $127,030 | $90,262 | $82,897 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $111,740 | $83,231 | $82,647 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $102,390 | $80,861 | $82,456 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $101,050 | $76,107 | $82,239 |
| 57 | Charleston, SC | $94,730 | $70,946 | $70,270 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
About the job: project management specialists
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.7% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $94,780
- Columbia, SC — $85,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Charleston, SC?
The median project management specialist salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $94,730 a year, or about $45.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,410 and $127,530.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $94,730 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $70,946 a year ($5,912 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,527 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,270 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #57 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist 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) — 28% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Management Analyst — $104,650
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,350
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $79,110