Human Resources Specialist Salary in Charleston, SC
Human Resources Specialists in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $70,580 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,405 take-home, or $4,617 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources specialist salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,698
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,376
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,023
- South Carolina income tax$3,078
- Take-home pay$55,405
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Human Resources Specialist pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,000 | $23.08 | $39,025 | $3,252 |
| 25th percentile | $56,710 | $27.26 | $45,501 | $3,792 |
| Median (50th) | $70,580 | $33.93 | $55,405 | $4,617 |
| 75th percentile | $93,160 | $44.79 | $69,936 | $5,828 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,180 | $59.22 | $89,226 | $7,435 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,580 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 human resources specialist's $55,405 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,877 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Specialist jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for human resources specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #180 of 217 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkersburg, WV | $94,520 | $71,704 | $82,356 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $112,140 | $80,063 | $72,506 |
| 3 | Davenport, IA | $79,670 | $62,502 | $70,165 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $83,810 | $63,615 | $70,044 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $76,550 | $62,449 | $68,723 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $90,290 | $72,349 | $68,508 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $100,830 | $74,162 | $68,111 |
| 8 | Elizabethtown, KY | $78,850 | $61,659 | $68,077 |
| 180 | Charleston, SC | $70,580 | $55,405 | $54,877 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 217 metros →
Human Resources Specialist salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $67,410
- Columbia, SC — $67,990
- Greenville, SC — $66,870
- Florence, SC — $61,300
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $61,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make in Charleston, SC?
The median human resources specialist salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $70,580 a year, or about $33.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,710 and $93,160.
What is a human resources specialist’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $70,580 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $55,405 a year ($4,617 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,078 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a human resources specialist?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $75,940. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,877 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #180 of 217 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources specialist 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) — 35% of a median human resources specialist’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
- Cost Estimator — $73,130
- Training and Development Specialist — $70,680
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $65,650
- Loan Officer — $65,580