Mechanical Engineer salary in Charleston, SC
Based on 23 certified H-1B filings in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes North Charleston, Ladson, Summerville.
Also listed as: Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $80,737 |
| 25th | $83,678 |
| 50th (median) | $109,408 |
| 75th | $119,220 |
| 90th | $125,923 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $74,942 | $64,624 | $77,491 | 11 |
| FY2021 | $77,000 | $74,214 | $89,502 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $75,379 | $75,379 | $77,010 | 11 |
| FY2023 | $87,060 | $80,000 | $97,583 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $90,180 | $83,501 | $100,552 | 12 |
| FY2025 | $109,574 | $83,678 | $116,854 | 11 |
| FY2026 | $109,290 | $80,965 | $125,923 | 12 |
Cost of living
Charleston's median Mechanical Engineer salary of $109,408 is worth about $108,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Charleston = 101.0).
Compared with all workers here
All Mechanical Engineers in the Charleston, SC area earned a median of $110,820 in May 2025 (940 employed). The H-1B median here is $109,408, 1% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The Boeing Company | $113,013 | 10 |
| Cummins | too few | 6 |
| Mercedes-Benz Vans | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.