Helpers--Production Workers Salary
In Charleston-North Charleston, SC, helpers--production workers earn $40,800 at the median, or about $19.62 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $40,412 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month, about 64.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About helpers--production workers
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What this looks like in Charleston-North Charleston
Helpers--production workers pay in Charleston-North Charleston tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,787/month, which is 63.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.96) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for helpers--production workers in metros near Charleston-North Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $37K | $40K |
| Columbia | $37K | $40K |
| Spartanburg | $38K | $42K |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $34K | $36K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level helpers--production workers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Production Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Helpers--Production Workers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $46K | +18% | 220 |
| Montana | $46K | +18% | 220 |
| Iowa | $46K | +17% | 2,070 |
| Colorado | $46K | +17% | 1,350 |
| Washington | $45K | +16% | 3,620 |
| Oregon | $45K | +16% | 2,420 |
| Connecticut | $45K | +16% | 1,400 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | +15% | 2,900 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +15% | 700 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | +14% | 210 |
| Minnesota | $45K | +14% | 2,570 |
| Maryland | $45K | +14% | 1,650 |
| Hawaii | $44K | +14% | 230 |
| Maine | $44K | +13% | 470 |
| California | $44K | +13% | 16,730 |
| New York | $44K | +11% | 3,810 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | +9% | 690 |
| Alaska | $43K | +9% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +8% | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $42K | +8% | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +8% | 2,900 |
| Michigan | $42K | +7% | 3,610 |
| Illinois | $41K | +6% | 5,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $41K | +5% | 6,450 |
| Missouri | $41K | +4% | 6,250 |
| Wyoming | $40K | +3% | 280 |
| Nevada | $40K | +2% | 680 |
| Arizona | $40K | +2% | 1,350 |
| Ohio | $40K | +1% | 4,280 |
| Vermont | $40K | +1% | 270 |
| North Carolina | $39K | +1% | 4,350 |
| New Jersey | $39K | +1% | 4,450 |
| West Virginia | $39K | +0% | 670 |
| Delaware | $38K | -2% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -2% | 5,270 |
| Idaho | $38K | -2% | 1,140 |
| Florida | $38K | -3% | 5,010 |
| Virginia | $38K | -3% | 3,900 |
| Kansas | $37K | -4% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $37K | -5% | 1,000 |
| Texas | $37K | -6% | 30,470 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -6% | 1,950 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -7% | 3,710 |
| Georgia | $36K | -7% | 4,480 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -7% | 2,200 |
| Alabama | $36K | -8% | 7,230 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -9% | 810 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -9% | 6,760 |
| Mississippi | $34K | -13% | 3,540 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--production workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--production worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston-North Charleston?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 63.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,787/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--production workers in Charleston-North Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--production workers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,818/month. At HUD’s $1,787/month FMR, rent would take 98% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--production worker a high-paying job in Charleston-North Charleston?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Charleston-North Charleston compare to the national average for helpers--production workers?
Charleston-North Charleston pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--production workers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $40,800 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,300, and experienced helpers--production workers can clear $56,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,820/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 63.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--production workers salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--production workers salary is worth about $40,412 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--production workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.