Charleston-North Charleston, SC · CBSA 16700
Mechanical Engineer Salary in Charleston
VerifiedPublished metro-area wages for mechanical engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, from the BLS OEWS May 2024 release — with the local distribution set against South Carolina and the national benchmark.
Mechanical Engineers in Charleston earn a median of $107,140 per year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $86,970–$131,600; the top 10% earn $140,410. That is 5% above the national median and 2% above the South Carolina median. BLS reports 790 employed locally.
Median wage
Verified$107,140
+5% vs national
Top 10% earn
$140,410
90th percentile
Employed in metro
790
Reliability Good (9.5% RSE)
Mechanical Engineer pay — Charleston vs South Carolina vs national
All three distributions are published BLS percentiles on a single shared scale.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $73,470 | +7% |
| 25th percentile | $86,970 | +6% |
| Median50th percentile | $107,140 | +5% |
| 75th percentile | $131,600 | +1% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $140,410 | -13% |
| Meanaverage | $109,570 | — |
How concentrated mechanical engineers are in Charleston
Location quotient compares local concentration to the national rate. Above 1.00 means this metro employs the occupation more densely than the country overall.
Location quotient
1.09
Jobs per 1,000
2.03
Metro rank (pay)
#52 of 342
All engineering roles
$113,317
Charleston employs mechanical engineers at close to the national rate (location quotient 1.09).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Charleston?
Does Charleston pay more than the rest of South Carolina?
Where does Charleston rank nationally for mechanical engineers?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers), Charleston-North Charleston, SC (metro area).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →