Civil Engineers Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $98,880 -0.7% vs national
Median hourly $47.54
10th percentile $64,990
90th percentile $147,090
Employed locally 1,280
National median $99,590

Compare Civil Engineers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Charleston, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Civil Engineers
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Charleston, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $64,990
    25th
    $79,500
    50th (median)
    $98,880
    75th
    $124,890
    90th
    $147,090

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Civil Engineers salary vs area income 120% Median Civil Engineers salary is 20% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Civil Engineers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $130,310
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $129,260
    Redding, CA $127,130
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,560
    Napa, CA $122,820
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $121,170

    Nearby metros — Civil Engineers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $126,560
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $103,120
    Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $102,380
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $101,430
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $100,040
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $99,680

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Industrial Engineers$105,510
    Mechanical Engineers$107,140
    Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,080
    Engineers, All Other$126,170
    Electrical Engineers$114,880
    Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$134,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Civil Engineers make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Civil Engineers in Charleston, SC is $47.54, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $80.40 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Civil Engineers salaries?

    The median Civil Engineers salary in Charleston, SC is 0.7% below the national median of $99,590. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Civil Engineers in Charleston?

    Entry-level Civil Engineers (10th percentile) earn around $64,990 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $79,500.