Lawyers Salary in Charleston, SC

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

Median annual salary $105,640 -30.1% vs national
Median hourly $50.79
10th percentile $64,510
90th percentile $215,550
Employed locally 1,560
National median $151,160

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Lawyers
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Charleston, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $64,510
    25th
    $81,060
    50th (median)
    $105,640
    75th
    $157,440
    90th
    $215,550

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Lawyers salary vs area income 128% Median Lawyers salary is 28% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lawyers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $301,320
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $215,090
    Midland, MI $209,430
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $205,900
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $203,450
    California $197,790

    Nearby metros — Lawyers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $215,090
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $137,270
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $123,590
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $119,990
    Wisconsin $119,970
    Spartanburg, SC $116,800

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants $50,830
    Legal Support Workers, All Other $49,870
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $49,870
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates $93,220

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lawyers make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Lawyers in Charleston, SC is $50.79, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $131.25 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Lawyers salaries?

    The median Lawyers salary in Charleston, SC is 30.1% below the national median of $151,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Lawyers in Charleston?

    Entry-level Lawyers (10th percentile) earn around $64,510 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $81,060.