Chemists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,720 or more. The middle half of chemists in Charleston earn between $71,560 and $126,910.
- $57K10th
- $72K25th
- $90KMedian
- $127K75th
- $139K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,740 | $8,062 | $46.51 |
| Median | $90,070 | $7,506 | $43.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,560 | $5,963 | $34.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,910 | $10,576 | $61.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Chemists in Charleston earn 7% more than the South Carolina average ($90,130) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $96,740 | $90,070 | $56,720 | $138,720 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $90,130 | $79,670 | $54,420 | $139,570 | 770 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $96,740, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $72,812 a year, or $6,068 a month and $2,800 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $96,740 buys what about $95,818 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 2nd of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($120,730).
- Spartanburg$120,730
- Charleston$96,740
- Greenville$90,540
- Columbia$79,220
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Charleston: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Charleston?
$46.51 an hour on average, and $43.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $72,812 a year ($6,068 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,740.
Do chemists earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2031; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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