Nursing Assistant Salary in Charleston, SC
Nursing Assistants in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $38,810 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,192 take-home, or $2,683 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,477
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,406
- Medicare (1.45%)$563
- South Carolina income tax$1,172
- Take-home pay$32,192
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,570 | $17.10 | $29,783 | $2,482 |
| 25th percentile | $37,350 | $17.96 | $31,107 | $2,592 |
| Median (50th) | $38,810 | $18.66 | $32,192 | $2,683 |
| 75th percentile | $44,040 | $21.17 | $36,081 | $3,007 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,970 | $22.58 | $38,259 | $3,188 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,810 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 nursing assistant's $32,192 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,886 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Charleston, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #106 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 106 | Charleston, SC | $38,810 | $32,192 | $31,886 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Columbia, SC — $37,400
- Greenville, SC — $37,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Charleston, SC?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $38,810 a year, or about $18.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,350 and $44,040.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $38,810 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $32,192 a year ($2,683 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,172 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,886 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #106 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant 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) — 61% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,100