Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Charleston, SC

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $61,020 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,705 take-home, or $4,059 a month.

Median salary
$61,020
$29.34 per hour
Typical range
$49,140 – $78,870
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Charleston, SC
4,670
1.33× national concentration
▲1.9%
Pay trend: The median for elementary school teachers, except special education in Charleston, SC rose from $59,880 (May 2024) to $61,020 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Charleston, SC
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$48,705
per year · effective tax rate 20.2%
$4,059Monthly
$2,029Twice a month
$1,873Every 2 weeks
$23.42Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,142
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,783
  • Medicare (1.45%)$885
  • South Carolina income tax$2,504
  • Take-home pay$48,705

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Charleston, SC

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$49,140$23.63$39,873$3,323
25th percentile$59,130$28.43$47,300$3,942
Median (50th)$61,020$29.34$48,705$4,059
75th percentile$76,940$36.99$59,498$4,958
90th percentile (top earners)$78,870$37.92$60,740$5,062

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $61,020 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $48,705 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,241 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,630
40% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,787
44% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$2,429
per month for everything else

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 elementary school teachers, except special education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living

Charleston, SC ranks #89 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $102,920$81,234$73,096
2Visalia, CA $98,430$71,872$71,998
3Modesto, CA $101,640$73,789$70,878
4Sacramento, CA $103,390$74,835$70,156
5Bridgeport, CT $98,600$74,347$69,572
6Dayton, OH $80,360$63,936$68,975
7Stockton, CA $97,400$71,256$67,805
8Riverside, CA $98,520$71,925$67,572
89Charleston, SC$61,020$48,705$48,241

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →

About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education

Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
-0.4% (slower than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in South Carolina

Frequently asked questions

How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Charleston, SC?

The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $61,020 a year, or about $29.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,130 and $76,940.

What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?

On the median $61,020 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $48,705 a year ($4,059 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,504 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.

Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?

Pay here is 5% below the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,241 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #89 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a elementary school teachers, except special education 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) — 40% of a median elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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