SOC 53-3032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers — Charleston
Charleston-North Charleston, SC · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Charleston, SC is $55,150 per year, close to the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Charleston, SC is $55,150 per year, close to the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $48,300 and $66,260. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $41,590 and the ninetieth at $77,550.
Employment stands at 6,020, or 15.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Florence records the highest median at $55,550. Of the 513 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 284th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,590 | −29.1% |
| 25th | $48,300 | −17.6% |
| Median (50th) | $55,150 | −6.0% |
| 75th | $66,260 | +13.0% |
| 90th | $77,550 | +32.2% |
| Mean | $57,950 | −1.2% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence | $55,550 | 1,590 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $53,080 | 5,240 | |
| 3 | Hilton Head Island | $52,530 | 730 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $51,280 | 5,630 | |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $50,700 | 3,630 | |
| 6 | Sumter | $46,500 | 480 | |
| 7 | Myrtle Beach | $46,360 | 1,960 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $55,150 goes as far as $58,858 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,858US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,150 a year, 6.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,590 to $77,550 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,020 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Florence, at $55,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Charleston, SC?
The median annual wage is $55,150, or $26.52 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,640, so pay in Charleston, SC is 6.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Charleston, SC earns more than $77,550 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,590 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Florence, at $55,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 6,020 jobs in this occupation in Charleston, SC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data