Study the fundamental principles governing matter, energy, space, and time. Median salary in Charleston: $108K/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.
Physicists in Charleston earn approximately 4% lower than the US national median for this role — a $4,000 discount on annual base salary. Charleston's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 105 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for Charleston's cost-of-living index (105), the median Physicist salary buys the equivalent of $102,857 in a US-average-cost city. That's $9,143 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Charleston ($1,750/mo) consumes approximately 30% of an after-tax median Physicist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($146K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $108K by 2030.
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The median Physicist salary in Charleston, SC is $108,000 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 Physicists in Charleston with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $75,000 and $108,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $108,000 to $146,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $146,000 to $192,000 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.
PhD in Physics. 35% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.