Charleston County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Charleston County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Charleston County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in South Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $88,480 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,537 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 17.2% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Charleston County is about 28% higher than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Charleston County (6.0%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 18% of adults in Charleston County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Charleston County, South Carolina grew by 84.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $88,480 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Charleston County
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,367 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $58,763 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.0% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Charleston County, it is 0.529, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Charleston County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $546,140 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Charleston County, South Carolina has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 21%. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2012, and was narrowest at 18% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,736 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Charleston County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.7% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 7,811 people are unemployed in Charleston County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Charleston County is 22 minutes, about the same as in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Charleston County, South Carolina has fallen from 8.6% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.7% in 2013.
Charleston County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Charleston County, SC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 420,867 residents against a local median of 64,818. Where Charleston County, SC breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 30% above the local median of $67,903 at $88,480. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.4% against a local median of 4.4%, 22% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Charleston County, SC is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $38,358 on median household income, so Charleston County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Charleston County, SC has the highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County, SC | 420,867 | $88,480 #1/6 | 6.0%/yr #2/6 | 3.4% #2/6 | 0.529 #2/6 |
| Berkeley County, SC | 246,888 | $84,225 | 5.4%/yr | 3.0% | 0.520 |
| Dorchester County, SC | 166,443 | $78,650 | 4.2%/yr | 4.9% | 0.533 |
| Colleton County, SC | 38,792 | $51,815 | 5.5%/yr | 9.8% | 0.555 |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 30,282 | $45,868 | 6.1%/yr | 4.0% | 0.568 |
| Georgetown County, SC | 64,818 | $67,903 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.547 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Charleston County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than South Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Charleston County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Charleston County, South Carolina?
Charleston County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $88,480, about 28% higher than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How has median household income changed in Charleston County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Charleston County, South Carolina rose 85%, from $47,898 to $88,480. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Carolina as a whole: +85% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Charleston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Charleston County, South Carolina was $84,356, up 7% from $78,955 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Charleston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Charleston County, South Carolina was $67,609. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $88,480.
Do many residents of Charleston County, South Carolina earn over $100,000?
Yes. 18% of adults in Charleston County, South Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in South Carolina. 17% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in South Carolina.
Is unemployment high in Charleston County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Charleston County, South Carolina is only 3.4%, well below the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Charleston County is 0.529. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Charleston County, South Carolina?
The income gap between men and women in Charleston County, South Carolina has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 21%. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2012, and was narrowest at 18% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,736 since 2009.
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