Registered Nurse Salary in Charleston, SC
Registered Nurses in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $92,800 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,704 take-home, or $5,809 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,586
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,754
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,346
- South Carolina income tax$4,411
- Take-home pay$69,704
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,120 | $34.19 | $55,753 | $4,646 |
| 25th percentile | $78,260 | $37.63 | $60,347 | $5,029 |
| Median (50th) | $92,800 | $44.62 | $69,704 | $5,809 |
| 75th percentile | $98,410 | $47.31 | $73,314 | $6,109 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,900 | $56.68 | $85,856 | $7,155 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $92,800 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 registered nurse's $69,704 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,040 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #275 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 275 | Charleston, SC | $92,800 | $69,704 | $69,040 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Sumter, SC — $86,260
- Florence, SC — $81,170
- Spartanburg, SC — $82,360
- Columbia, SC — $81,920
- Greenville, SC — $81,400
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $80,640
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $81,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Charleston, SC?
The median registered nurse salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $92,800 a year, or about $44.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,260 and $98,410.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $92,800 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $69,704 a year ($5,809 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,411 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,040 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #275 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 28% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Physicians, All Other — $163,900
- Pharmacist — $145,950
- Physician Assistant — $128,920
- Nurse Practitioner — $127,780
- Physical Therapist — $101,550
- Dental Hygienist — $94,570
- 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