Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in Charleston, SC

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

Median annual salary $138,060 +17% vs national
Median hourly $66.37
10th percentile $89,320
90th percentile $168,520
Employed locally 30
National median $117,960

Compare Physical Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

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Physical Scientists, All Other
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $89,320
    25th
    $99,740
    50th (median)
    $138,060
    75th
    $158,850
    90th
    $168,520

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Physical Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 168% Median Physical Scientists, All Other salary is 68% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physical Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $170,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $168,870
    Minnesota $167,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,610
    District of Columbia $157,980

    Nearby metros — Physical Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $149,550
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,490
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $98,240
    Wisconsin $93,910

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$87,240
    Chemical Technicians$60,790
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$55,200
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$105,160
    School Psychologists$83,210
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$79,470

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physical Scientists, All Other make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Charleston, SC is $66.37, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $81.02 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Physical Scientists, All Other salaries?

    The median Physical Scientists, All Other salary in Charleston, SC is 17% above the national median of $117,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physical Scientists, All Other in Charleston?

    Entry-level Physical Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $89,320 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $99,740.