Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Charleston, SC: $142,100 (2026)

Site Reliability Engineer Pay in Charleston: What to Expect (2026)

Charleston offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $142,100, which is $15,950 above the South Carolina state average of $126,150. Compared to the national median of $145,000, Charleston pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Charleston's cost of living is 100% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for site reliability engineers in Charleston spans from $86,240 at the 10th percentile to $215,600 at the 90th percentile — a $129,360 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $90,160, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $205,800. With a population of 150,227, Charleston is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Charleston by Experience

In Charleston, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $90,160, while experienced professionals earn up to $205,800 per year. The local cost of living index is 100% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)

$90,160

$-1,840 vs national

Mid Level (3-7 yrs)

$145,040

$-2,960 vs national

Senior Level (8+ yrs)

$205,800

$-4,200 vs national

Percentile	Charleston	SC State	National
10th Percentile	$86,240	$76,560	$88,000
25th Percentile	$112,700	$100,050	$115,000
Median (50th)	$142,100	$126,150	$145,000
75th Percentile	$181,300	$160,950	$185,000
90th Percentile	$215,600	$191,400	$220,000

Percentile

Charleston

10th Percentile

$86,240

25th Percentile

$112,700

Median (50th)

$142,100

75th Percentile

$181,300

90th Percentile

$215,600

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Charleston

Education

Most site reliability engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Charleston and the surrounding South Carolina area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

LinuxKubernetesTerraformPythonMonitoring ToolsIncident Response

Job Outlook

Nationally, site reliability engineer employment is projected to grow 22% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Charleston may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Charleston

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Charleston, SC? ▼

The median site reliability engineer salary in Charleston, South Carolina is $142,100 per year, which is 2% below the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $86,240 (10th percentile) to $215,600 (90th percentile).

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Charleston? ▼

Based on the median annual salary of $142,100, a site reliability engineer in Charleston earns approximately $68 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.

How does Charleston compare to the South Carolina state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼

Charleston's median site reliability engineer salary of $142,100 is 12.6% above the South Carolina state average of $126,150. The local cost of living index is 100% of the national average.

What is the cost of living in Charleston, SC? ▼

Charleston has a cost of living index of 100% compared to the national average. This means a site reliability engineer salary of $142,100 in Charleston has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.

What qualifications do I need to become a site reliability engineer in Charleston? ▼

Most site reliability engineer positions in Charleston require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Linux, Kubernetes, Terraform, Python. The job market is projected to grow 22% nationally over the next decade.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Charleston, South Carolina