Registered Nurse salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Registered Nurses in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $92,800 a year ($44.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,900 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 13% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $82,360. There are 25 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $91,710, close to the median.
Pay range for registered nurses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,120 | $34.19 |
| 25th percentile | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| Median | $92,800 | $44.62 |
| 75th percentile | $98,410 | $47.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,900 | $56.68 |
| Average (mean) | $91,710 | $44.09 |
Half of registered nurses 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 | $7,733.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,866.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,569.23 |
| Weekly | $1,784.62 |
| Hourly | $44.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,620 | 27,010 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $87,760 | 6,880 |
| Sumter, SC | $86,260 | 670 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $82,360 | 4,440 |
| Columbia, SC | $81,920 | 9,400 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,400 | 9,730 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $81,400 | 1,410 |
| Florence, SC | $81,170 | 3,120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $80,640 | 3,150 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $163,900 | $78.80 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Pharmacist | $145,950 | $70.17 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| Physician Assistant | $128,920 | $61.98 |
| Dental Hygienist | $94,570 | $45.46 |
| Dentists, General | $121,090 | $58.22 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $79,410 | $38.18 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,790 | $47.50 |
| Veterinarian | $122,130 | $58.72 |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,530 | $47.37 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $255,650 | $122.91 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,550 | $36.80 |
| Chiropractor | $76,750 | $36.90 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 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 29-1141. 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 registered nurse make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $92,800 a year, or $44.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $117,900 a year. The top 25% earn $98,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,120 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $78,260 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 9,760 registered nurses are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.