Construction Laborer Salary in Charleston, SC
Construction Laborers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $43,630 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,776 take-home, or $2,981 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,056
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,705
- Medicare (1.45%)$633
- South Carolina income tax$1,461
- Take-home pay$35,776
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,190 | $15.00 | $26,527 | $2,211 |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 | $31,174 | $2,598 |
| Median (50th) | $43,630 | $20.98 | $35,776 | $2,981 |
| 75th percentile | $50,930 | $24.49 | $41,204 | $3,434 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,920 | $31.21 | $51,605 | $4,300 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,630 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 construction laborer's $35,776 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,435 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 construction laborer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #251 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 251 | Charleston, SC | $43,630 | $35,776 | $35,435 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Florence, SC — $45,230
- Greenville, SC — $44,380
- Spartanburg, SC — $42,210
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $45,750
- Columbia, SC — $42,630
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $38,210
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Charleston, SC?
The median construction laborer salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $43,630 a year, or about $20.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,440 and $50,930.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $43,630 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $35,776 a year ($2,981 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,461 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,435 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #251 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer 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) — 55% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,470
- Construction and Building Inspector — $60,140
- Electrician — $59,010
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $57,360
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,640
- Carpenter — $50,380