Firefighter salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Firefighters in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $46,830 a year ($22.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,120 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 10% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $42,570. There are 3.7 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,800 | $14.81 |
| 25th percentile | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| Median | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| 75th percentile | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| Average (mean) | $47,480 | $22.83 |
Half of firefighters 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 | $3,902.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,951.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,801.15 |
| Weekly | $900.58 |
| Hourly | $22.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,830 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.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $50,210 | 640 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $47,540 | 510 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,890 | 820 |
| Sumter, SC | $43,890 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,980 | 1,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| Columbia, SC | $36,960 | 1,060 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,360 | 620 |
| Florence, SC | $32,570 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $62,180 | $29.89 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,570 | $29.12 |
| Security Guard | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $81,800 | $39.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $73,280 | $35.23 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $78,410 | $37.70 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $73,990 | $35.57 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,120 | $15.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $58,720 | $28.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $51,800 | $24.90 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $51,890 | $24.95 |
More: Protective Service 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 33-2011. 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 firefighter make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $46,830 a year, or $22.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $64,120 a year. The top 25% earn $54,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,800 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $36,160 or less.
How many firefighters work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 1,470 firefighters are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.