High paying entry level jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

These occupations in Charleston-North Charleston, SC ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Charleston-North Charleston, SC run 1.0% above the national average (2024), so a Charleston-North Charleston, SC salary is worth about 0.99× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

OccupationMedian, Charleston-North Charleston, SC · Employed

1Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$162,230
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,790 – $357,080200
2Pharmacists$145,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$112,460 – $167,920920
3Aerospace Engineers$137,030
Bachelor's degree
$109,760 – $170,150340
4Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$135,410
Bachelor's degree
$91,480 – $183,830450
5Computer Hardware Engineers$133,430
Bachelor's degree
$80,780 – $176,630270
6Software Developers$132,150
Bachelor's degree
$80,170 – $213,3402,050
7Computer Occupations, All Other$131,600
Bachelor's degree
$79,970 – $172,1001,590
8Materials Engineers$131,080
Bachelor's degree
$78,860 – $170,970200
9Physician Assistants$128,920
Master's degree
$77,790 – $158,260620
10Nurse Practitioners$127,780
Master's degree
$103,200 – $157,1701,050
11Lawyers$127,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,960 – $272,9901,590
12Computer and Information Research Scientists$126,860
Master's degree
$84,200 – $158,370400
13Engineers, All Other$124,250
Bachelor's degree
$79,310 – $188,120420
14Veterinarians$122,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,310 – $178,260330
15Dentists, General$121,090
Doctoral or professional degree
$102,810 – $227,200410
16Industrial Engineers$110,830
Bachelor's degree
$78,720 – $165,4301,050
17Mechanical Engineers$110,820
Bachelor's degree
$76,970 – $154,890940
18Electrical Engineers$110,030
Bachelor's degree
$75,540 – $162,450590
19Computer Programmers$107,770
Bachelor's degree
$72,040 – $141,950160
20Operations Research Analysts$104,220
Bachelor's degree
$69,080 – $136,990340
21Computer Systems Analysts$103,300
Bachelor's degree
$65,300 – $163,0501,620
22Physical Therapists$101,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,000 – $126,780690
23Social Workers, All Other$99,340
Bachelor's degree
$52,680 – $118,580130
24Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$99,250
Bachelor's degree
$78,350 – $160,800240
25Civil Engineers$98,740
Bachelor's degree
$66,490 – $167,2401,310
26Occupational Therapists$98,530
Master's degree
$63,200 – $127,900320
27Database Administrators$98,180
Bachelor's degree
$58,940 – $148,860180
28Network and Computer Systems Administrators$97,480
Bachelor's degree
$64,920 – $148,380730
29Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$96,990
Bachelor's degree
$60,650 – $139,200320
30Project Management Specialists$94,730
Bachelor's degree
$57,840 – $150,0703,510
31Dental Hygienists$94,570
Associate's degree
$80,180 – $97,710540
32Financial Specialists, All Other$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$57,260 – $134,090240
33Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,520
Associate's degree
$61,410 – $102,500150
34Financial and Investment Analysts$93,960
Bachelor's degree
$59,520 – $166,360660
35Registered Nurses$92,800
Bachelor's degree
$71,120 – $117,9009,760
36Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,080
Associate's degree
$77,200 – $108,220210
37Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,370
Associate's degree
$61,790 – $131,300520
38Logisticians$82,780
Bachelor's degree
$60,550 – $127,6901,410
39Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$82,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,440 – $133,920190
40Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,820 – $93,160380
41Respiratory Therapists$79,410
Associate's degree
$60,020 – $90,670390
42Accountants and Auditors$79,350
Bachelor's degree
$54,040 – $138,6202,600
43Business Operations Specialists, All Other$79,110
Bachelor's degree
$55,430 – $137,3003,680
44Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$79,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,930 – $130,590310
45Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,670 – $105,490170
46Fundraisers$73,630
Bachelor's degree
$49,970 – $109,070260
47Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,730
Associate's degree
$58,450 – $96,820640
48Interior Designers$72,400
Bachelor's degree
$44,960 – $106,010260
49Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,330
Associate's degree
$46,650 – $107,680210
50Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,160
Associate's degree
$62,330 – $82,210410

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianCharleston-North Charleston, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$162,230	$63,790 – $357,080	200
2	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$145,950	$112,460 – $167,920	920
3	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$137,030	$109,760 – $170,150	340
4	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$135,410	$91,480 – $183,830	450
5	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$133,430	$80,780 – $176,630	270
6	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$132,150	$80,170 – $213,340	2,050
7	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$131,600	$79,970 – $172,100	1,590
8	Materials EngineersBachelor's degree	$131,080	$78,860 – $170,970	200
9	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$128,920	$77,790 – $158,260	620
10	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$127,780	$103,200 – $157,170	1,050
11	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$127,280	$75,960 – $272,990	1,590
12	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$126,860	$84,200 – $158,370	400
13	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$124,250	$79,310 – $188,120	420
14	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$122,130	$39,310 – $178,260	330
15	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$121,090	$102,810 – $227,200	410
16	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,830	$78,720 – $165,430	1,050
17	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,820	$76,970 – $154,890	940
18	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$110,030	$75,540 – $162,450	590
19	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$107,770	$72,040 – $141,950	160
20	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$104,220	$69,080 – $136,990	340
21	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,300	$65,300 – $163,050	1,620
22	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,550	$75,000 – $126,780	690
23	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$99,340	$52,680 – $118,580	130
24	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$99,250	$78,350 – $160,800	240
25	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,740	$66,490 – $167,240	1,310
26	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$98,530	$63,200 – $127,900	320
27	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$98,180	$58,940 – $148,860	180
28	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$97,480	$64,920 – $148,380	730
29	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$96,990	$60,650 – $139,200	320
30	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,730	$57,840 – $150,070	3,510
31	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,570	$80,180 – $97,710	540
32	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$94,520	$57,260 – $134,090	240
33	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,520	$61,410 – $102,500	150
34	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$93,960	$59,520 – $166,360	660
35	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$92,800	$71,120 – $117,900	9,760
36	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,080	$77,200 – $108,220	210
37	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,370	$61,790 – $131,300	520
38	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$82,780	$60,550 – $127,690	1,410
39	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,300	$60,440 – $133,920	190
40	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,690	$65,820 – $93,160	380
41	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,410	$60,020 – $90,670	390
42	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$79,350	$54,040 – $138,620	2,600
43	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$79,110	$55,430 – $137,300	3,680
44	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$79,110	$48,930 – $130,590	310
45	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,580	$50,670 – $105,490	170
46	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$73,630	$49,970 – $109,070	260
47	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,730	$58,450 – $96,820	640
48	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$72,400	$44,960 – $106,010	260
49	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,330	$46,650 – $107,680	210
50	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,160	$62,330 – $82,210	410

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Charleston-North Charleston, SC to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC

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