How Much Does an MLT Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs 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 MLT in Charleston, South Carolina earns $27.91 per hour, or $58,050 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,838 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,030, and the top 10% of earners make over $81,560.
That pay is 5% above the South Carolina figure of $55,280 and 8% below the national figure of $62,930. Charleston ranks 6th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for MLT pay. About 830 MLTs 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.
MLT pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $27.91 an hour, or $58,050 a year.
- That is 5% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 6th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,030; the top 10% make over $81,560.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $17.32 an hour to more than $39.21 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,030$17.32 an hour | $36,420$17.51 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $45,310$21.78 an hour | $44,140$21.22 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $58,050$27.91 an hour | $55,280$26.58 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $73,540$35.36 an hour | $72,750$34.97 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $81,560$39.21 an hour | $81,930$39.39 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Charleston · North Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Charleston was $54,470 a year. By 2025 it had reached $58,050.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Richmond County pays MLTs the most in South Carolina at $67,040 a year, $8,990 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hilton Head Island at $49,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond County | $67,040 | $32.23 | +15% | 570 |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $64,490 | $31.01 | +11% | 310 |
| 3 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $62,360 | $29.98 | +7% | 2,020 |
| 4 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Myrtle Beach · Conway | $60,590 | $29.13 | +4% | 250 |
| 5 | Sumter | $60,380 | $29.03 | +4% | 30 |
| 6 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $58,050 | $27.91 | this city | 830 |
| 7 | Columbia | $55,280 | $26.58 | -5% | 810 |
| 8 | Anderson metro incl. Greer · Greenville | $53,070 | $25.52 | -9% | 990 |
| 9 | Florence | $50,970 | $24.50 | -12% | 300 |
| 10 | Port Royal metro incl. Bluffton · Hilton Head Island | $49,730 | $23.91 | -14% | 100 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $55,280
Is Charleston a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $58,050 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston area, about 2.1 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. MLT jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Charleston, SC?
- A typical MLT in Charleston earns $58,050 a year, or $27.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,030 and the top 10% earn over $81,560.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Charleston is $27.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.32, and the top 10% earn over $39.21 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Charleston?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Charleston typically offer around $17.32 an hour, or $36,030 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is 5% above the South Carolina figure of $55,280 a year, ranking 6th of 10 metro areas in the state. Richmond County pays the most in South Carolina at $67,040.