Develop and deploy artificial intelligence systems and applications. Median salary in Charleston: $175K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Charleston, South Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Adjusted for Charleston's cost-of-living index (105), the median AI Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $166,667 in a US-average-cost city. That's $8,333 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
This role's national salaries are growing at 12% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Charleston median reaches $308,410 in five years.
This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Charleston-based AI Engineers. Many Charleston professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Charleston's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $175K by 2030.
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The median AI Engineer salary in Charleston, SC is $175,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Charleston–SC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level AI Engineers in Charleston with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $130,000 and $175,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $175,000 to $225,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $225,000 to $290,000 or more.
Charleston has a cost of living index of 105 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Charleston are close to the national average. South Carolina has a 6.5% state income tax rate.
Master's or PhD in CS or AI. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Charleston-based professionals.