Chief Executive salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Chief Executives in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $197,220 a year ($94.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $398,230 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 17% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $168,840. There are 0.73 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $226,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,320 | $47.75 |
| 25th percentile | $136,730 | $65.74 |
| Median | $197,220 | $94.82 |
| 75th percentile | $289,930 | $139.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $398,230 | $191.46 |
| Average (mean) | $226,000 | $108.65 |
Half of chief executives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $16,435 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,217.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,585.38 |
| Weekly | $3,792.69 |
| Hourly | $94.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $197,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $197,540 | 100 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $194,350 | 100 |
| Columbia, SC | $176,890 | 320 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $174,230 | 60 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $166,420 | 300 |
| Florence, SC | $160,660 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $144,980 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $109,260 | $52.53 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $121,990 | $58.65 |
| Sales Manager | $139,830 | $67.23 |
| Financial Manager | $147,170 | $70.76 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $63,450 | $30.51 |
| Construction Manager | $107,610 | $51.73 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $124,060 | $59.64 |
| Food Service Manager | $75,700 | $36.39 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $167,000 | $80.29 |
| Marketing Manager | $138,790 | $66.73 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $174,040 | $83.67 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $104,370 | — |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $100,610 | $48.37 |
| Managers, All Other | $136,370 | $65.56 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for chief executives in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $197,220 a year, or $94.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $398,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $398,230 a year. The top 25% earn $289,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,320 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $136,730 or less.
How many chief executives work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 290 chief executives are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.