How Much Does an RN Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Charleston, South Carolina earns $44.62 per hour, or $92,800 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,733 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $71,120, and the top 10% of earners make over $117,900.
That pay is 13% above the South Carolina figure of $82,360 and 5% below the national figure of $97,550. Charleston ranks 1st of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for RN pay. About 9,760 RNs 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.
RN pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $44.62 an hour, or $92,800 a year.
- That is 13% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 1st of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $71,120; the top 10% make over $117,900.
- Typical pay rose +43% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $34.19 an hour to more than $56.68 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $71,120$34.19 an hour | $66,860$32.14 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $78,260$37.63 an hour | $77,320$37.17 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $92,800$44.62 an hour | $82,360$39.60 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $98,410$47.31 an hour | $97,230$46.75 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $117,900$56.68 an hour | $106,520$51.21 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs 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 RN pay in Charleston was $65,020 a year. By 2025 it had reached $92,800, a change of +43%, compared with +39% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Charleston pays RNs the most of any metro area in South Carolina. The lowest-paying area in the state is North Myrtle Beach at $80,640.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $92,800 | $44.62 | this city | 9,760 |
| 2 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $90,620 | $43.57 | -2% | 27,010 |
| 3 | Richmond County | $87,760 | $42.19 | -5% | 6,880 |
| 4 | Sumter | $86,260 | $41.47 | -7% | 670 |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $82,360 | $39.60 | -11% | 4,440 |
| 6 | Columbia | $81,920 | $39.39 | -12% | 9,400 |
| 7 | Bluffton metro incl. Port Royal · Hilton Head Island | $81,400 | $39.14 | -12% | 1,410 |
| 8 | Anderson metro incl. Greer · Greenville | $81,400 | $39.14 | -12% | 9,730 |
| 9 | Florence | $81,170 | $39.02 | -13% | 3,120 |
| 10 | Conway metro incl. Myrtle Beach · North Myrtle Beach | $80,640 | $38.77 | -13% | 3,150 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $82,360
Is Charleston a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $92,800 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston area, about 25 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Charleston, SC?
- A typical RN in Charleston earns $92,800 a year, or $44.62 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $71,120 and the top 10% earn over $117,900.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Charleston is $44.62. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $34.19, and the top 10% earn over $56.68 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Charleston?
- Entry-level RN positions in Charleston typically offer around $34.19 an hour, or $71,120 a year.
- Is RN pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is 13% above the South Carolina figure of $82,360 a year, ranking 1st of 10 metro areas in the state.