How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs 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 Surgical Tech in Charleston, South Carolina earns $28.81 per hour, or $59,920 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,993 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,390, and the top 10% of earners make over $69,110.
That pay is 4% below the South Carolina figure of $62,160 and 7% below the national figure of $64,650. Charleston ranks 8th of 9 metro areas in South Carolina for Surgical Tech pay. About 380 Surgical Techs 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.
Surgical Tech pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.81 an hour, or $59,920 a year.
- That is 4% below the South Carolina figure, ranking 8th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,390; the top 10% make over $69,110.
- Typical pay rose +54% from 2015 to 2025, against +67% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $22.78 an hour to more than $33.23 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,390$22.78 an hour | $38,830$18.67 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $55,710$26.79 an hour | $52,140$25.07 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $59,920$28.81 an hour | $62,160$29.89 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $69,110$33.23 an hour | $67,080$32.25 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $69,110$33.23 an hour | $75,210$36.16 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs 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 Surgical Tech pay in Charleston was $38,970 a year. By 2025 it had reached $59,920, a change of +54%, compared with +67% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Florence pays Surgical Techs the most in South Carolina at $67,080 a year, $7,160 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Myrtle Beach at $48,790.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence | $67,080 | $32.25 | +12% | 260 |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $63,570 | $30.56 | +6% | 270 |
| 3 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $63,490 | $30.52 | +6% | 1,170 |
| 4 | Greenville | $63,050 | $30.31 | +5% | 510 |
| 5 | Hilton Head Island metro incl. Bluffton · Port Royal | $62,810 | $30.20 | +5% | 40 |
| 6 | Columbia | $61,230 | $29.44 | +2% | 440 |
| 7 | Richmond County | $60,300 | $28.99 | +1% | 250 |
| 8 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $59,920 | $28.81 | this city | 380 |
| 9 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · Myrtle Beach | $48,790 | $23.46 | -19% | 310 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $62,160
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $59,920 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston area, about 1.0 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes the local economy more reliant on Surgical Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Charleston, SC?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Charleston earns $59,920 a year, or $28.81 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,390 and the top 10% earn over $69,110.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Charleston is $28.81. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.78, and the top 10% earn over $33.23 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Charleston?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Charleston typically offer around $22.78 an hour, or $47,390 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is 4% below the South Carolina figure of $62,160 a year, ranking 8th of 9 metro areas in the state. Florence pays the most in South Carolina at $67,080.