SOC 33-3051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers — Charleston
Charleston-North Charleston, SC · 7 metro areas compared
In Charleston, SC the median wage is $60,570.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Charleston, SC the median wage is $60,570. That is 20.5% lower than the national median of $76,210. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $53,300 and $72,660. The lowest tenth earn under $49,300, while the highest tenth earn more than $75,920.
Employment stands at 2,320, or 5.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Myrtle Beach leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,070. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 242nd of 513 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,300 | −35.3% |
| 25th | $53,300 | −30.1% |
| Median (50th) | $60,570 | −20.5% |
| 75th | $72,660 | −4.7% |
| 90th | $75,920 | −0.4% |
| Mean | $63,120 | −17.2% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myrtle Beach | $62,070 | 910 | |
| 2 | Columbia | $59,260 | 2,840 | |
| 3 | Hilton Head Island | $59,240 | 540 | |
| 4 | Greenville | $57,780 | 1,910 | |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $57,030 | 720 | |
| 6 | Sumter | $54,940 | 210 | |
| 7 | Florence | $48,710 | 490 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charleston run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $60,570 goes as far as $64,642 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,570as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,642US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,570 a year, 20.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,300 to $75,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,320 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Myrtle Beach, at $62,070.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers in Charleston, SC?
The median annual wage is $60,570, or $29.12 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 $76,210, so pay in Charleston, SC is 20.5% 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 $75,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,300 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 Myrtle Beach, at $62,070 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,320 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.
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