Computer Programmers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $141,950 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Charleston earn between $99,720 and $135,250.
- $72K10th
- $100K25th
- $108KMedian
- $135K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $115,960 | $9,663 | $55.75 |
| Median | $107,770 | $8,981 | $51.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $99,720 | $8,310 | $47.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $135,250 | $11,271 | $65.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Charleston earn 15% more than the South Carolina average ($100,720) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $115,960 | $107,770 | $72,040 | $141,950 | 160 |
| South Carolina | $100,720 | $99,740 | $63,130 | $135,250 | 790 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $115,960, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $85,332 a year, or $7,111 a month and $3,282 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $115,960 buys what about $114,855 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$115,960
- Greenville$103,550
- Columbia$97,940
- Myrtle Beach$93,760
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Charleston?
$55.75 an hour on average, and $51.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $85,332 a year ($7,111 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $115,960.
Do computer programmers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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