Highest-paying jobs in Charleston

Written by:
March 12, 2021
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Highest-paying jobs in Charleston

collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, using data from the . Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2019.

In Charleston, the annual mean wage is $47,800 or 10.6% lower than national mean of $53,490, while the highest-paying occupation makes $271,340. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Computer programmers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $80,900
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,610
- Employment: 199,540
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,990)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($113,760)

#49. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $82,140
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,700
- Employment: 53,090
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($143,420)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($142,610)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($140,810)

#48. Ship engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $85,450
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,540
- Employment: 8,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,020)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($94,200)

#47. Network and computer systems administrators

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,190
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- Employment: 354,450
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,440)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($112,910)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($109,790)

#46. Database administrators and architects

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,770
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,110
- Employment: 125,460
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($114,960)

#45. Materials engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,930
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,890
- Employment: 26,820
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,690)
--- Boulder, CO ($127,260)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($126,970)

#44. Radiation therapists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,940
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Entry level education requirements: Associate鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)

#43. Industrial engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $88,300
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- Employment: 291,710
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,850)
--- Billings, MT ($124,350)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,940)

#42. Physician assistants

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $89,400
- #288 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#41. Mechanical engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $89,640
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,540
- Employment: 306,990
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,270)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($120,950)

#40. Operations research analysts

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $90,800
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,600
- Employment: 99,680
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,530)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,310)
--- Salinas, CA ($121,050)

#39. Computer network architects

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $91,490
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 152,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,400)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($151,650)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,100)

#38. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $93,370
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,310

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,620
- Employment: 1,406,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($145,730)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($145,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,090)

#37. Information security analysts

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $93,640
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,210
- Employment: 125,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)

#36. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $94,880
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,340
- Employment: 271,020
- Entry level education requirements: Master's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($150,080)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($143,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,820)

#35. Electrical engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $95,410
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,480
- Employment: 185,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,450)
--- Salinas, CA ($129,850)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($128,080)

#34. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $96,880
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $121,620
- Employment: 201,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jacksonville, FL ($202,430)
--- Jackson, MS ($185,500)
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($184,130)

#33. Natural sciences managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,350
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,450
- Employment: 67,720
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($222,530)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($208,910)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($206,710)

#32. Chemical engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,620
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,090
- Employment: 30,120
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($162,330)
--- Midland, TX ($152,170)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($150,680)

#31. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,820
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($151,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,220)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($139,860)

#30. Lawyers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $100,840
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,300
- Employment: 657,170
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($218,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,910)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($179,590)

#29. Computer hardware engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $101,100
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 67,880
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($161,210)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($149,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($142,820)

#28. Education administrators, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $102,220
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,400
- Employment: 144,880
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ithaca, NY ($186,580)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($180,620)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($170,400)

#27. Nurse practitioners

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $102,370
- #267 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)

#26. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $103,600
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- Employment: 67,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,190)
--- Fresno, CA ($128,540)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($121,070)

#25. Sales managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $107,320
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,690
- Employment: 402,600
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($195,220)
--- Trenton, NJ ($178,020)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($175,500)

#24. Electronics engineers, except computer

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $108,440
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $110,210
- Employment: 128,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($132,600)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($130,890)

#23. Construction managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $109,160
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,000
- Employment: 293,380
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($160,500)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,140)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($146,820)

#22. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $110,010
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($110,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($107,190)
--- San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR ($103,530)

#21. General and operations managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $111,790
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 2,400,280
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($189,060)
--- Trenton, NJ ($173,050)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,160)

#20. Nuclear engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $112,710
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,700
- Employment: 15,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($146,420)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($145,330)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,270)

#19. Purchasing managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $115,090
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,400
- Employment: 72,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($171,560)
--- Morgantown, WV ($163,830)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($160,620)

#18. Medical and health services managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $116,140
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,160
- Employment: 394,910
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($163,280)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($159,190)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,570)

#17. Training and development managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $116,820
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,470
- Employment: 38,510
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,900)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,380)

#16. Pharmacists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $117,640
- #312 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)

#15. Human resources managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $117,720
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- Employment: 154,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($196,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($174,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($170,070)

#14. Marketing managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $121,050
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $149,200
- Employment: 263,680
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($199,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($188,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($183,460)

#13. Industrial production managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $122,670
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 185,790
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($158,000)
--- Boulder, CO ($149,990)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($149,500)

#12. Architectural and engineering managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $123,450
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $152,930
- Employment: 194,250
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($203,310)
--- Amarillo, TX ($198,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($188,210)

#11. Commercial pilots

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $124,430
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($164,720)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($139,920)
--- Jackson, MS ($136,010)

#10. Financial managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $128,660
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

National
- Annual mean salary: $147,530
- Employment: 654,790
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($208,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($203,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,190)

#9. Business teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $138,710
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,440
- Employment: 83,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($177,360)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,210)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($141,870)

#8. Optometrists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $142,700
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)

#7. Computer and information systems managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $143,230
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,390
- Employment: 433,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($215,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,960)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($196,290)

#6. Dentists, general

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $145,260
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

#5. Nurse anesthetists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $165,620
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Entry level education requirements: Master鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)

#4. Chief executives

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $206,990
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $193,850
- Employment: 205,890
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor鈥檚 degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($270,040)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($264,330)
--- Midland, TX ($258,760)

#3. Family medicine physicians

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $210,290
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

#2. General internal medicine physicians

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $258,700
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)

#1. Anesthesiologists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $271,340
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $261,730
- Employment: 31,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($283,660)
--- Tulsa, OK ($281,080)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($276,350)

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