Retail Salespersons pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,750 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Charleston earn between $28,640 and $37,430.
- $24K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,750 | $2,979 | $17.19 |
| Median | $34,090 | $2,841 | $16.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,640 | $2,387 | $13.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,430 | $3,119 | $18.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Charleston earn 6% more than the South Carolina average ($33,790) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $35,750 | $34,090 | $23,590 | $47,750 | 11,930 |
| South Carolina | $33,790 | $30,690 | $22,330 | $45,510 | 67,310 |
| United States | $37,310 | $35,410 | $27,210 | $47,890 | 3,897,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Retail Salespersons salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $35,750, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $30,492 a year, or $2,541 a month and $1,173 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 retail salespersons? 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 $35,750 buys what about $35,409 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 12.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$35,750
- Hilton Head Island$35,390
- Greenville$34,200
- Spartanburg$33,380
- Myrtle Beach$32,950
- Columbia$32,590
- Florence$31,860
- Sumter$31,830
Highest-paying cities for retail salespersons
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,420).
- San Jose, CA$47,420
- San Francisco, CA$47,290
- Napa, CA$45,630
- Seattle, WA$45,020
- Mount Vernon, WA$44,690
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Retail Salespersons salary in Charleston: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Charleston?
$17.19 an hour on average, and $16.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Charleston?
About $30,492 a year ($2,541 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,750.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($37,310).
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 41-2031; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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