Cost Estimator Salary in Charleston, SC
Cost Estimators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $73,130 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,046 take-home, or $4,754 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,259
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,534
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,060
- South Carolina income tax$3,231
- Take-home pay$57,046
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,840 | $23.48 | $39,650 | $3,304 |
| 25th percentile | $57,610 | $27.70 | $46,170 | $3,848 |
| Median (50th) | $73,130 | $35.16 | $57,046 | $4,754 |
| 75th percentile | $96,120 | $46.21 | $71,840 | $5,987 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,520 | $62.27 | $93,179 | $7,765 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,130 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 cost estimator's $57,046 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,503 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cost Estimator jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #84 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | $66,268 | $72,999 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $81,170 | $63,884 | $68,992 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $76,130 | $62,387 | $68,837 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $81,300 | $66,025 | $68,534 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $76,660 | $62,760 | $68,085 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $79,020 | $63,030 | $67,998 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | $69,544 | $67,833 |
| 84 | Charleston, SC | $73,130 | $57,046 | $56,503 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
Cost Estimator salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $69,210
- Columbia, SC — $65,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Charleston, SC?
The median cost estimator salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $73,130 a year, or about $35.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,610 and $96,120.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $73,130 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $57,046 a year ($4,754 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,231 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,503 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #84 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator 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) — 34% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Management Analyst — $104,650
- Project Management Specialist — $94,730
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $93,960
- Compliance Officer — $86,260
- Logistician — $82,780
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $82,240
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,350
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $79,110
- Training and Development Specialist — $70,680
- Human Resources Specialist — $70,580
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,650
- Loan Officer — $65,580