Retail Salesperson salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Retail Salespersons in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $34,090 a year ($16.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,750 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $35,410. Pay here is 11% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $30,690. There are 30 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,590 | $11.34 |
| 25th percentile | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Median | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| 75th percentile | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Average (mean) | $35,750 | $17.19 |
Half of retail salespersons 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 | $2,840.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,420.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,311.15 |
| Weekly | $655.58 |
| Hourly | $16.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,090 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.
Retail Salesperson salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $33,880 | 3,700 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,580 | 35,150 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,840 | 11,830 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $30,540 | 3,790 |
| Columbia, SC | $29,540 | 10,860 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $29,350 | 6,930 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,320 | 7,780 |
| Sumter, SC | $28,720 | 1,010 |
| Florence, SC | $28,650 | 2,600 |
Highest-paying states for retail salespersons
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 |
| California | $38,440 |
| Colorado | $37,950 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 |
| New York | $37,720 |
| Vermont | $37,400 |
| Alaska | $37,290 |
| Oregon | $36,770 |
| Maine | $36,640 |
See Retail Salesperson pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $30,130 | $14.49 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| Parts Salesperson | $36,700 | $17.64 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $78,890 | $37.93 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $73,450 | $35.31 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| Travel Agent | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,170 | $25.08 |
More: Sales and Related 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 41-2031. 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 retail salesperson make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for retail salespersons in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $34,090 a year, or $16.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $47,750 a year. The top 25% earn $37,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,590 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $28,640 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 11,930 retail salespersons are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.