Software Developer salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Software Developers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $132,150 a year ($63.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,340 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 2% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $129,450. There are 5.2 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $138,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,170 | $38.55 |
| 25th percentile | $101,880 | $48.98 |
| Median | $132,150 | $63.54 |
| 75th percentile | $163,700 | $78.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,340 | $102.57 |
| Average (mean) | $138,730 | $66.70 |
Half of software developers 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 | $11,012.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,506.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,082.69 |
| Weekly | $2,541.35 |
| Hourly | $63.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $135,920 | 20,820 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $125,760 | 260 |
| Columbia, SC | $123,380 | 2,070 |
| Sumter, SC | $121,880 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $121,790 | 2,070 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $119,780 | 910 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $114,460 | 440 |
| Florence, SC | $108,460 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $52,590 | $25.28 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $103,300 | $49.66 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $131,600 | $63.27 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $97,480 | $46.86 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $81,990 | $39.42 |
| Computer Network Architect | $137,930 | $66.31 |
| Information Security Analyst | $110,310 | $53.03 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $99,250 | $47.71 |
| Database Administrator | $98,180 | $47.20 |
| Database Architect | $129,640 | $62.33 |
| Computer Programmer | $107,770 | $51.81 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $96,190 | $46.25 |
| Web Developer | $82,740 | $39.78 |
More: Computer and Mathematical 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 15-1252. 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 software developer make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for software developers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $132,150 a year, or $63.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of software developers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $213,340 a year. The top 25% earn $163,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,170 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $101,880 or less.
How many software developers work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 2,050 software developers are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.