Pharmacist Salary in Charleston, SC
Pharmacists in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $145,950 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $103,423 take-home, or $8,619 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$23,762
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,049
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,116
- South Carolina income tax$7,600
- Take-home pay$103,423
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 6.00% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $112,460 | $54.07 | $82,355 | $6,863 |
| 25th percentile | $130,860 | $62.91 | $94,014 | $7,835 |
| Median (50th) | $145,950 | $70.17 | $103,423 | $8,619 |
| 75th percentile | $161,620 | $77.70 | $113,193 | $9,433 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,920 | $80.73 | $117,121 | $9,760 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $145,950 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 pharmacist's $103,423 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,437 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pharmacist jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #90 of 120 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, MN | $164,250 | $113,470 | $124,938 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $148,330 | $112,650 | $124,295 |
| 3 | McAllen, TX | $137,700 | $105,384 | $122,689 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | $114,133 | $120,500 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $137,970 | $101,816 | $120,114 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $199,040 | $131,343 | $118,945 |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $153,610 | $108,199 | $118,833 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $142,040 | $106,840 | $117,573 |
| 90 | Charleston, SC | $145,950 | $103,423 | $102,437 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 120 metros →
Pharmacist salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $153,610
- Greenville, SC — $135,580
- Columbia, SC — $133,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Charleston, SC?
The median pharmacist salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $145,950 a year, or about $70.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $130,860 and $161,620.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $145,950 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $103,423 a year ($8,619 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,600 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,437 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #90 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist 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) — 19% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Physicians, All Other — $163,900
- Physician Assistant — $128,920
- Nurse Practitioner — $127,780
- Physical Therapist — $101,550
- Dental Hygienist — $94,570
- Registered Nurse — $92,800
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $72,730
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $64,100
- Medical Records Specialist — $61,950
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $58,050
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,690
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $44,840