Highest paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
The best paying occupations in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 1.0% above the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianCharleston-North Charleston, SC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $308,880 | $175,950 – $431,670 | — |
| 2 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $303,680 | $200,960 – $520,790 | 80 |
| 3 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $255,650 | $156,010 – $336,190 | 230 |
| 4 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $228,740 | $167,110 – $413,420 | — |
| 5 | DermatologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $207,000 | $165,600 – $437,050 | — |
| 6 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $197,220 | $99,320 – $398,230 | 290 |
| 7 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $174,040 | $113,310 – $221,190 | 730 |
| 8 | Advertising and Promotions ManagersBachelor's degree | $170,000 | $93,560 – $226,270 | 40 |
| 9 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $167,000 | $97,180 – $287,170 | 940 |
| 10 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $163,900 | $17,950 – $471,010 | 1,370 |
| 11 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $162,230 | $63,790 – $357,080 | 200 |
| 12 | Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree | $158,960 | $60,630 – $226,560 | 80 |
| 13 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $154,660 | $52,100 – $179,020 | 70 |
| 14 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree | $150,810 | $67,850 – $226,400 | 50 |
| 15 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $147,170 | $85,590 – $299,470 | 1,420 |
| 16 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $145,950 | $112,460 – $167,920 | 920 |
| 17 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $139,830 | $69,590 – $230,400 | 1,660 |
| 18 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,790 | $80,960 – $302,820 | 800 |
| 19 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,340 | $93,810 – $200,990 | 220 |
| 20 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $137,930 | $88,140 – $186,870 | 480 |
| 21 | Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree | $137,030 | $109,760 – $170,150 | 340 |
| 22 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $136,370 | $75,550 – $196,640 | 510 |
| 23 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree | $135,410 | $91,480 – $183,830 | 450 |
| 24 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $133,430 | $80,780 – $176,630 | 270 |
| 25 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree | $132,790 | $55,670 – $204,950 | 730 |
| 26 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $132,660 | $62,070 – $224,590 | 130 |
| 27 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $132,150 | $80,170 – $213,340 | 2,050 |
| 28 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $131,600 | $79,970 – $172,100 | 1,590 |
| 29 | Materials EngineersBachelor's degree | $131,080 | $78,860 – $170,970 | 200 |
| 30 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $129,640 | $85,760 – $203,090 | 170 |
| 31 | Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree | $129,590 | $80,360 – $159,780 | — |
| 32 | Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree | $129,070 | $84,130 – $173,360 | 50 |
| 33 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $128,920 | $77,790 – $158,260 | 620 |
| 34 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $127,780 | $103,200 – $157,170 | 1,050 |
| 35 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $127,280 | $75,960 – $272,990 | 1,590 |
| 36 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $127,080 | $70,080 – $213,290 | 420 |
| 37 | Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree | $126,860 | $84,200 – $158,370 | 400 |
| 38 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $125,730 | $75,940 – $217,010 | — |
| 39 | Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree | $125,700 | $44,910 – $187,270 | — |
| 40 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $124,870 | $82,630 – $183,730 | 80 |
| 41 | Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $124,250 | $79,310 – $188,120 | 420 |
| 42 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $124,060 | $84,390 – $199,740 | 980 |
| 43 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree | $123,090 | $54,480 – $163,160 | — |
| 44 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $122,130 | $39,310 – $178,260 | 330 |
| 45 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $121,990 | $67,320 – $216,360 | 2,220 |
| 46 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $121,820 | $70,500 – $195,680 | 90 |
| 47 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $121,090 | $102,810 – $227,200 | 410 |
| 48 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $118,980 | $42,370 – $227,000 | 50 |
| 49 | Fundraising ManagersBachelor's degree | $112,680 | $65,600 – $181,370 | 60 |
| 50 | Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree | $110,830 | $78,720 – $165,430 | 1,050 |