Software Developers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,340 or more. The middle half of software developers in Charleston earn between $101,880 and $163,700.
- $80K10th
- $102K25th
- $132KMedian
- $164K75th
- $213K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $138,730 | $11,561 | $66.70 |
| Median | $132,150 | $11,012 | $63.53 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,880 | $8,490 | $48.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $163,700 | $13,642 | $78.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Software Developers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Software developers in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($136,240) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($148,100). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $135,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $138,730 | $132,150 | $80,170 | $213,340 | 2,050 |
| South Carolina | $136,240 | $129,450 | $76,010 | $212,460 | 13,230 |
| United States | $148,100 | $135,980 | $82,460 | $214,670 | 1,687,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Software Developers salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $138,730, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $99,826 a year, or $8,319 a month and $3,839 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 software developers? 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 $138,730 buys what about $137,408 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Developers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 2nd of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($138,790).
- Hilton Head Island$138,790
- Charleston$138,730
- Greenville$128,890
- Sumter$126,690
- Columbia$122,260
- Florence$120,970
- Spartanburg$119,340
Highest-paying cities for software developers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($221,710).
- San Jose, CA$221,710
- San Francisco, CA$193,430
- Seattle, WA$174,920
- Oxnard, CA$174,020
- Boulder, CO$166,480
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Software Developers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do software developers make an hour in Charleston?
$66.70 an hour on average, and $63.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software developers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software developers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $99,826 a year ($8,319 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $138,730.
Do software developers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($148,100).
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 15-1252; area Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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