Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Charleston, SC?

In the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $49,120 a year ($23.62 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 2,510 of these jobs there. That is about the same as the $49,150 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $34,880 and $79,480; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $40,707 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Charleston, SC at a glance

Median salary

$49,120$23.62 per hour · $4,093 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$34,880$16.77/hr
25th percentile$38,020$18.28/hr
75th percentile$64,540$31.03/hr
90th percentile$79,480$38.21/hr
Jobs in this metro2,510Location quotient 1.41 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs hereabout the same asAll-jobs median $49,150
Against South Carolina2% aboveStatewide median $48,100
Against the U.S.3% belowNational median $50,620

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Auto mechanic salary in Charleston, SC after taxes

$49,120
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$49,120
Net 83%
Fed 8%
SC 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$40,707After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,392Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,566Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,714 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$941 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,758 / yr

Auto mechanics pay range in Charleston, SC, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (SC)
10th percentile$16.77/hr$2,907$34,880$29,810
25th percentile$18.28/hr$3,168$38,020$32,271
MedianMedian$23.62/hr$4,093$49,120$40,707
75th percentile$31.03/hr$5,378$64,540$52,074
90th percentile$38.21/hr$6,623$79,480$61,790

Is $49,120 a good salary in Charleston, SC?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$85,254Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)101.01% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household57.6%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Auto mechanic pay in Charleston, SC: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area was $49,120 in May 2025, about $4,093 a month or $23.62 an hour. Statewide, the South Carolina median for this job is $48,100, so the metro pays 2% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Charleston-North Charleston, SC was $23.62 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $16.77 an hour and one in ten earned more than $38.21.

How many auto mechanics work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

BLS estimated 2,510 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 6.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.41 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Charleston-North Charleston, SC run from $34,880 at the 10th percentile to $38,020 at the 25th, $64,540 at the 75th, and $79,480 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

On a median gross salary of $49,120, an estimated $40,707 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,566 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,413 (an effective rate of 17.1%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

On the median annual salary of $49,120, gross monthly income is $4,093. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,392 per month (or $1,566 every two weeks).

Is $49,120 a good salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?

At $49,120, the median salary for auto mechanics is 57.6% of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC median household income ($85,254). It is about the same as the $49,150 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 101.0, so prices here run 1% above the U.S. average.