Electrical Engineer Salary in Charleston, SC
Electrical Engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $110,030 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,791 take-home, or $6,733 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,377
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,822
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,595
- South Carolina income tax$5,445
- Take-home pay$80,791
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,540 | $36.32 | $58,597 | $4,883 |
| 25th percentile | $82,950 | $39.88 | $63,365 | $5,280 |
| Median (50th) | $110,030 | $52.90 | $80,791 | $6,733 |
| 75th percentile | $137,340 | $66.03 | $98,055 | $8,171 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,450 | $78.10 | $113,711 | $9,476 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $110,030 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 electrical engineer's $80,791 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,022 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrical Engineer jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #64 of 79 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $116,477 | $121,907 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $159,360 | $120,189 | $113,754 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | $123,840 | $95,911 | $104,862 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $128,190 | $98,884 | $98,806 |
| 64 | Charleston, SC | $110,030 | $80,791 | $80,022 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 79 metros →
Electrical Engineer salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $101,620
- Columbia, SC — $101,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Charleston, SC?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $110,030 a year, or about $52.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,950 and $137,340.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $110,030 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $80,791 a year ($6,733 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,445 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,022 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #64 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer 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) — 24% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $135,410
- Industrial Engineer — $110,830
- Mechanical Engineer — $110,820
- Civil Engineer — $98,740
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $86,370