Machinists Salary in Charleston, SC

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

Median annual salary $55,370 -1.4% vs national
Median hourly $26.62
10th percentile $32,440
90th percentile $73,620
Employed locally 470
National median $56,150

Compare Machinists salary & buying power

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

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Machinists
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,440
    25th
    $45,530
    50th (median)
    $55,370
    75th
    $65,170
    90th
    $73,620

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 67% Median Machinists salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Machinists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $85,530
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Barnstable Town, MA $77,650

    Nearby metros — Machinists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,320
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $64,080
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $62,300
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $59,260
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $58,760

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,030
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $78,730
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,840
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $52,000
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $50,180
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $60,390

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Charleston, SC is $26.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.14 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Charleston, SC is 1.4% below the national median of $56,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $32,440 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,530.