Charleston Employment

Employment and Industries in the Charleston, South Carolina Area

The Charleston region is a center of finance, industry, distribution and retail trade. The region's transportation systems are a major economic asset. Healthcare, finance, automotive, professional services, telecommunications and tourism are important economic sectors for Charleston.

For years the chemical industry has been a major economic component for the region. Chemical companies in the area include Monsanto, Union Carbide Corporation, FMC, Clearon Corp and E.I. du Pont de Nemours. Other industries having significant roles in the region's economy are glass manufacturing, steel fabricating and energy development.

The Business and Industrial Development Corporation provides a variety of services to new and existing businesses. The organization provides assistance with worker training, financing, engineering services, professional economic development and site selection.

In Charleston the sectors providing the most jobs are trade, transportation and utilities; government, healthcare, education, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, financial activities and manufacturing.

Approximately 38% of the jobs are provided by management, professional and related occupations. About 25% of the workers have sale and office jobs. About 17% of the labor force is working in service jobs.

Top employers in the Charleston metro area:

  • US Navy C/O Naval Weapons Station
  • Medical University of South Carolina
  • Charleston Air Force Base
  • Charleston County School District
  • Roper St. Francis Healthcare
  • Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co Inc
  • Robert Bosch Corporation
  • Charleston County Local Government
  • Walmart
  • Force Protection Inc
  • Trident Medical Center
  • City of Charleston
  • Santee Cooper Electric Utility
  • Bi-Lo Stores
  • MeadWestvaco Corporation
  • US Postal Service
  • College of Charleston
  • Eagan McAllister Associates, Inc
  • Giant Cement Company
  • Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

Notable facts about Charleston, South Carolina: Average earnings in 2009: $34,000. The cost of living index in 2008: 94.0 (U.S. average: 100). Adult residents holding a bachelor's degree: 38%.

Some of the helpful organizations that provide assistance to local businesses are:

The Charleston Regional Business Journal provides news regarding business and the economy in Charleston, South Carolina.

Jobs in Charleston

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations359310$47,800$22.98100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations47500$38,560$18.5413.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations40320$24,290$11.688.7
4Sales and Related Occupations38370$38,000$18.279.5
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations32110$34,850$16.756.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations26010$76,910$36.985.85
7Production Occupations21660$43,310$20.825.6
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations18240$68,450$32.915.35
9Construction and Extraction Occupations16680$45,120$21.694.6
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations15730$47,390$22.793.75
11Management Occupations15490$113,900$54.766.35
12Educational Instruction and Library Occupations14820$50,250$24.166
13Retail Salespersons13550$28,160$13.542.7
14Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations12720$27,020$12.993.6
15Fast Food and Counter Workers12650$21,680$10.422.45
16Computer and Mathematical Occupations11300$81,460$39.163
17Healthcare Support Occupations11070$31,220$15.012.85
18Registered Nurses10650$68,630$331.95
19Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand9600$32,500$15.631.8
20Personal Care and Service Occupations9340$29,160$14.024.65
21Cashiers8720$22,250$10.72.2
22Customer Service Representatives8570$37,200$17.881.75
23Architecture and Engineering Occupations8060$81,840$39.351.7
24Protective Service Occupations7630$42,800$20.582.2
25Waiters and Waitresses7320$19,420$9.341.65
26Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive6100$36,870$17.731.4
27Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators5510$36,390$17.50.8
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers5280$54,300$26.110.95
29Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers5160$41,780$20.081.2
30Cooks, Restaurant5100$27,180$13.070.9
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners5100$23,070$11.091.5
32Stockers and Order Fillers4950$27,680$13.311.25
33General and Operations Managers4850$111,790$53.751.5
34Maintenance and Repair Workers, General3860$38,650$18.580.9
35Office Clerks, General3770$28,070$13.491.9
36First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers3730$44,160$21.230.95
37Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks3660$36,400$17.51.05
38Community and Social Service Occupations3590$46,220$22.221.75
39First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers3470$38,530$18.520.6
40Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations3440$50,260$24.161.8
41Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers3360$29,920$14.390.75
42Construction Laborers3340$32,270$15.510.9
43Accountants and Auditors3230$63,980$30.760.9
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products3220$74,780$35.950.85
45Management Analysts3110$75,670$36.380.55
46Legal Occupations3010$80,980$38.930.8
47Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2930$23,090$11.10.9
48Home Health and Personal Care Aides2720$23,110$11.110
49Nursing Assistants2720$29,330$14.10.95
50Medical Assistants2710$35,260$16.950.45
51First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers2620$64,540$31.030.4
52Receptionists and Information Clerks2420$29,210$14.040.7
53Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers2310$93,370$44.890.65
54Computer Systems Analysts2230$80,080$38.50.4
55Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop2210$19,400$9.330.3
56Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics2180$46,510$22.360.5
57Security Guards2180$32,690$15.720.7
58Electricians2140$43,420$20.870.45
59Real Estate Sales Agents2000$50,430$24.240.2
60Light Truck Drivers1970$36,370$17.490.6
61Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1950$68,820$33.090.8
62Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1940$39,570$19.020.4
63Carpenters1910$54,950$26.420.6
64Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1910$48,130$23.140.4
65Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants1870$37,390$17.970.4
66Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity1840$21,980$10.570.3
67First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1830$59,020$28.380.3
68Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1800$44,960$21.610.35
69Bartenders1790$24,970$120.4
70Amusement and Recreation Attendants1700$23,280$11.190.2
71Lawyers1690$100,840$48.480.5
72First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1680$69,390$33.360.4
73Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel1670$57,540$27.660.7
74Computer User Support Specialists1620$52,270$25.130.4
75Food Preparation Workers1540$28,260$13.590.5
76Childcare Workers1490$21,090$10.140.7
77Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists1470$61,020$29.340.45
78Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators1390$43,610$20.970.4
79Human Resources Specialists1380$64,550$31.030.4
80Network and Computer Systems Administrators1380$87,190$41.920.2
81First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors1350$58,150$27.960.3
82Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators1350$43,980$21.140.25
83Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria1310$24,240$11.650.3
84Industrial Engineers1270$88,300$42.450.2
85Driver/Sales Workers1250$27,350$13.150.3
86Pharmacy Technicians1240$35,780$17.20.3
87Training and Development Specialists1240$59,930$28.810.2
88Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1190$45,960$22.10.5
89Civil Engineers1150$75,810$36.450.2
90Dishwashers1150$21,750$10.460.3
91Pharmacists1130$117,640$56.560.2
92Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks1110$47,840$230.2
93Paralegals and Legal Assistants1100$53,620$25.780.2
94Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists1090$30,400$14.620.4
95Recreation Workers1090$28,140$13.530.3
96Billing and Posting Clerks1050$38,260$18.390.3
97Medical and Health Services Managers1050$116,140$55.840.3
98Logisticians1040$73,990$35.570.1
99Administrative Services and Facilities Managers1020$111,650$53.680
100Packers and Packagers, Hand1020$24,790$11.920.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
You are visiting:

Additional Details

Charleston Colleges
Charleston colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Charleston Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,800359,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,56047,500
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,29040,320
Sales and Related Occupations$38,00038,370
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,85032,110
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,91026,010
Production Occupations$43,31021,660
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,45018,240
Construction and Extraction Occupations$45,12016,680
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,39015,730
Management Occupations$113,90015,490
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$50,25014,820
Retail Salespersons$28,16013,550
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$27,02012,720
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,68012,650
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$81,46011,300
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,22011,070
Registered Nurses$68,63010,650
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,5009,600
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,1609,340
Cashiers$22,2508,720
Customer Service Representatives$37,2008,570
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$81,8408,060
Protective Service Occupations$42,8007,630
Waiters and Waitresses$19,4207,320
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,8706,100
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,3905,510
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,3005,280
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,7805,160
Cooks, Restaurant$27,1805,100
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,0705,100
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,6804,950
General and Operations Managers$111,7904,850
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,6503,860
Office Clerks, General$28,0703,770
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$44,1603,730
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$36,4003,660
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,2203,590
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,5303,470
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,2603,440
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,9203,360
Construction Laborers$32,2703,340
Accountants and Auditors$63,9803,230
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,7803,220
Management Analysts$75,6703,110
Legal Occupations$80,9803,010
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,0902,930
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,1102,720
Nursing Assistants$29,3302,720
Medical Assistants$35,2602,710

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Charleston, South Carolina Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,800359,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,56047,500
Sales and Related Occupations$38,00038,370
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,85032,110
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,91026,010
Production Occupations$43,31021,660
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$68,45018,240
Construction and Extraction Occupations$45,12016,680
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,39015,730
Management Occupations$113,90015,490
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$50,25014,820
Retail Salespersons$28,16013,550
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$27,02012,720
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$81,46011,300
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,22011,070
Registered Nurses$68,63010,650
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,5009,600
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,1609,340
Customer Service Representatives$37,2008,570
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$81,8408,060
Protective Service Occupations$42,8007,630
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,8706,100
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,3905,510
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,3005,280
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$41,7805,160
Cooks, Restaurant$27,1805,100
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,6804,950
General and Operations Managers$111,7904,850
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,6503,860
Office Clerks, General$28,0703,770
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$44,1603,730
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$36,4003,660
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,2203,590
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$38,5303,470
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,2603,440
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$29,9203,360
Construction Laborers$32,2703,340
Accountants and Auditors$63,9803,230
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,7803,220
Management Analysts$75,6703,110
Legal Occupations$80,9803,010
Nursing Assistants$29,3302,720
Medical Assistants$35,2602,710
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$64,5402,620
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,2102,420
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,3702,310
Computer Systems Analysts$80,0802,230
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$46,5102,180
Security Guards$32,6902,180
Electricians$43,4202,140

Career and College Resources on CityTownInfo

Real-World Career Reports

Career Stories from workers: daily activities, job tips, best/worst job aspects, training, etc.
Daily Career & Education News from our staff. We're an approved Google News provider!

Career References and Original Articles

Resource Center. A starting point for all CityTownInfo career and college resources.
Career Overviews of hundreds of careers: descriptions, salaries, forecasts, schools, more.
Best Careers Not Requiring Degrees: Good pay, job growth, low need for degrees.
Helpful Articles, many in "how-to" format; e.g., "How to Become a Chef".
Infographics covering employment and educational trends.

College Directories and Lists

These lists link to thousands of detailed school profiles.

Colleges by State. Nearly every college and trade school in the country.
Colleges Listed Alphabetically. About 7,000 colleges & trade schools, including online schools.
Colleges by Major City. Browse cities with multiple college options.
Online Colleges. Colleges with online degree programs.
Graduate Schools by State. Colleges offering graduate degree programs.
Graduate Schools by Major City. Find cities with multiple graduate school options.