SOC 17-2041 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · May 2025
How much do Chemical Engineers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $129,070. The 10th percentile is $84,130 and the 90th percentile is $173,360. Employment is 50.
Median annual wage
$129,070
- 10th percentile
- $84,130
- 25th percentile
- $93,340
- Median
- $129,070
- 75th percentile
- $145,460
- 90th percentile
- $173,360
- Mean
- $124,420
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Chemical Engineers, the published 10th percentile is $84,130 and the 90th percentile is $173,360. The difference is $89,230, which is 69.1% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $93,340 to the 75th at $145,460, covers $52,120.
The mean annual wage is $124,420, which sits below the median of $129,070. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Charleston-North Charleston, SC median is 3.2% higher than the national median of $125,040 for Chemical Engineers. In 2024 national prices the local median is $127,840, which is 2.2% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 27.1% higher than the South Carolina median of $101,570.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Charleston-North Charleston, SC is 100.962, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $129,070 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Chemical Engineers at $127,840 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
2 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Chemical Engineers. Charleston-North Charleston, SC ranks 1st of 3 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC is 155 miles away, with a median of $115,890 and employment of 110. That median is 10.2% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $119,047, against $127,840 here.
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC is 180 miles away, with a median of $86,820 and employment of 60. That median is 32.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $93,095, against $127,840 here.
Employment share
Chemical Engineers accounts for 0.01% of wage-and-salary employment in Charleston-North Charleston, SC (50 of 394,170). Nationally the occupation is 0.01% of employment (21,070 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.94 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC · Chemical Engineers by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Chemical Engineers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $129,070. The 10th percentile is $84,130 and the 90th percentile is $173,360. Employment is 50.
How does that compare with the national median for Chemical Engineers?
The local median is 3.2% higher than the national median of $125,040.
What is Chemical Engineers pay in Charleston-North Charleston, SC after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Charleston-North Charleston, SC is 100.962, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $129,070 is $127,840. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Charleston-North Charleston, SC compare with nearby metros for Chemical Engineers?
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 155 miles away, at $115,890. Charleston-North Charleston, SC ranks 1st of 3 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.