Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Charleston, SC
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $65,280 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,873 take-home, or $4,323 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,654
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,047
- Medicare (1.45%)$947
- South Carolina income tax$2,760
- Take-home pay$51,873
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,270 | $23.69 | $39,969 | $3,331 |
| 25th percentile | $59,870 | $28.78 | $47,850 | $3,988 |
| Median (50th) | $65,280 | $31.38 | $51,873 | $4,323 |
| 75th percentile | $79,280 | $38.12 | $61,004 | $5,084 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,460 | $46.38 | $72,059 | $6,005 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,280 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $51,873 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,379 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Charleston, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #70 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 70 | Charleston, SC | $65,280 | $51,873 | $51,379 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $64,060
- Columbia, SC — $60,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Charleston, SC?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $65,280 a year, or about $31.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,870 and $79,280.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $65,280 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $51,873 a year ($4,323 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,760 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,379 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #70 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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) — 38% of a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.