Retail Salesperson Salary in Charleston, SC
Retail Salespersons in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $34,090 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,683 take-home, or $2,390 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,911
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,114
- Medicare (1.45%)$494
- South Carolina income tax$888
- Take-home pay$28,683
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,590 | $11.34 | $20,688 | $1,724 |
| 25th percentile | $28,640 | $13.77 | $24,631 | $2,053 |
| Median (50th) | $34,090 | $16.39 | $28,683 | $2,390 |
| 75th percentile | $37,430 | $18.00 | $31,166 | $2,597 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,750 | $22.96 | $38,839 | $3,237 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,090 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 retail salesperson's $28,683 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,410 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 1.2× the national concentration of retail salesperson jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #151 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| 2 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,860 | $29,144 | $33,257 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $36,640 | $31,620 | $33,095 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $34,600 | $29,981 | $33,080 |
| 5 | Rochester, MN | $36,000 | $29,999 | $33,030 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $36,378 | $32,944 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $34,650 | $28,986 | $32,654 |
| 8 | Rapid City, SD | $33,350 | $28,977 | $32,500 |
| 151 | Charleston, SC | $34,090 | $28,683 | $28,410 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
About the job: retail salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Retail Salesperson salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $33,880
- Spartanburg, SC — $30,540
- Florence, SC — $28,650
- Greenville, SC — $30,840
- Columbia, SC — $29,540
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $29,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Charleston, SC?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $34,090 a year, or about $16.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,640 and $37,430.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $34,090 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $28,683 a year ($2,390 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $888 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,410 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #151 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson 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) — 68% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.