Mechanical Engineer salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Mechanical Engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $110,820 a year ($53.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 940 workers.
Pay ranges from $76,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,890 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 6% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $104,580. There are 2.4 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $113,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| 25th percentile | $90,050 | $43.30 |
| Median | $110,820 | $53.28 |
| 75th percentile | $133,580 | $64.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,890 | $74.46 |
| Average (mean) | $113,940 | $54.78 |
Half of mechanical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,235 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,617.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,262.31 |
| Weekly | $2,131.15 |
| Hourly | $53.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $128,740 | 980 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $120,070 | 60 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $104,990 | 520 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $104,150 | 40 |
| Florence, SC | $103,800 | 130 |
| Columbia, SC | $102,280 | 450 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $101,950 | 2,470 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $101,570 | 1,800 |
| Sumter, SC | $101,010 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical Engineer pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $98,740 | $47.47 |
| Industrial Engineer | $110,830 | $53.29 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,030 | $52.90 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $135,410 | $65.10 |
| Engineers, All Other | $124,250 | $59.74 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $137,030 | $65.88 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,430 | $64.15 |
| Materials Engineer | $131,080 | $63.02 |
| Environmental Engineer | $86,670 | $41.67 |
| Chemical Engineer | $129,070 | $62.05 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $123,090 | $59.18 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $129,590 | $62.30 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $86,370 | $41.52 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $71,160 | $34.21 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $110,820 a year, or $53.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $76,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $154,890 a year. The top 25% earn $133,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $76,970 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $90,050 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 940 mechanical engineers are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.