How Much Does a CNA Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston · North Charleston metro area
A typical CNA in Charleston, South Carolina earns $18.66 per hour, or $38,810 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,234 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,570, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,970.
That pay is 4% above the South Carolina figure of $37,220 and 8% below the national figure of $42,260. Charleston ranks 3rd of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for CNA pay. About 2,800 CNAs work in the Charleston · North Charleston area. Charleston is part of the Charleston · North Charleston metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so North Charleston share these figures.
CNA pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.66 an hour, or $38,810 a year.
- That is 4% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,570; the top 10% make over $46,970.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $17.10 an hour to more than $22.58 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,570$17.10 an hour | $30,460$14.64 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,350$17.96 an hour | $34,960$16.81 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,810$18.66 an hour | $37,220$17.90 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,040$21.18 an hour | $39,690$19.08 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,970$22.58 an hour | $44,760$21.52 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Charleston · North Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Charleston was $26,010 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,810, a change of +49%, compared with +64% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Spartanburg pays CNAs the most in South Carolina at $40,050 a year, $1,240 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Florence at $35,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg | $40,050 | $19.26 | +3% | 1,630 |
| 2 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $39,430 | $18.96 | +2% | 13,580 |
| 3 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $38,810 | $18.66 | this city | 2,800 |
| 4 | Port Royal metro incl. Hilton Head Island · Bluffton | $37,730 | $18.14 | -3% | 770 |
| 5 | Columbia | $37,400 | $17.98 | -4% | 5,420 |
| 6 | Anderson metro incl. Greenville · Greer | $37,220 | $17.90 | -4% | 3,820 |
| 7 | Richmond County | $37,140 | $17.86 | -4% | 2,560 |
| 8 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Myrtle Beach · Conway | $36,520 | $17.56 | -6% | 820 |
| 9 | Sumter | $35,860 | $17.24 | -8% | 470 |
| 10 | Florence | $35,400 | $17.02 | -9% | 1,320 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $37,220
Is Charleston a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,810 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston area, about 7.1 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Charleston, SC?
- A typical CNA in Charleston earns $38,810 a year, or $18.66 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,570 and the top 10% earn over $46,970.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Charleston is $18.66. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.10, and the top 10% earn over $22.58 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Charleston?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Charleston typically offer around $17.10 an hour, or $35,570 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is 4% above the South Carolina figure of $37,220 a year, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state. Spartanburg pays the most in South Carolina at $40,050.