Software Developer Salary in Charleston, SC
Software Developers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $132,150 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,819 take-home, or $7,902 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,450
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,193
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,916
- South Carolina income tax$6,772
- Take-home pay$94,819
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 6.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,170 | $38.54 | $61,576 | $5,131 |
| 25th percentile | $101,880 | $48.98 | $75,547 | $6,296 |
| Median (50th) | $132,150 | $63.53 | $94,819 | $7,902 |
| 75th percentile | $163,700 | $78.70 | $114,490 | $9,541 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,340 | $102.57 | $147,109 | $12,259 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,150 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 software developer's $94,819 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,915 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Charleston, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.48), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #107 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 107 | Charleston, SC | $132,150 | $94,819 | $93,915 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Columbia, SC — $123,380
- Greenville, SC — $121,790
- Spartanburg, SC — $114,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Charleston, SC?
The median software developer salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $132,150 a year, or about $63.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,880 and $163,700.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $132,150 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $94,819 a year ($7,902 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,772 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,915 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #107 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 21% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- Computer Network Architect — $137,930
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $131,600
- Information Security Analyst — $110,310
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,300
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $97,480
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $81,990
- Computer User Support Specialist — $52,590