AI Data Governance Manager.
North Charleston.
$163,000
median salary, 7% below the national average
$121,000 to $209,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
AI Data Governance Manager pay in North Charleston ranges from $121,000 to $209,000 in 2026. The median is $163,000, 7% below the national average. North Charleston is the industrial and manufacturing heart of the Lowcountry, home to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly facility and the Charleston Naval Complex. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $147,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$106,000
to $130,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$139,000
to $171,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$179,000
to $212,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$204,000
to $253,000
Salary trend
+8% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $70,000 to the total package.
Base
$163,000
Equity
$42,000
Bonus
$18,000
Signing
$10,000
Estimated total: $233,000
How North Charleston compares
North Charleston, SC
$163,000
Cost of living: 6% below average
National Average
$175,000
North Charleston is $12,000 below
AI Data Governance Manager salary by city
Salary by role in North Charleston
What you should know
If you are interviewing for AI Data Governance Manager roles in North Charleston, here is what you are walking into. North Charleston is the industrial and manufacturing heart of the Lowcountry, home to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly facility and the Charleston Naval Complex. The area has attracted significant defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing investment. Growth in logistics driven by the expanding port continues to drive employment. Expertise in managing data quality, lineage, and compliance specifically for AI training and inference pipelines drives compensation. Managers who can implement governance frameworks spanning data collection, labeling, storage, and model deployment are highly valued. Experience with privacy regulations affecting AI data use and cross border data transfer rules adds premiums.
Junior data governance analysts start at $95,000 to $130,000. Mid level managers with AI data pipeline experience earn $155,000 to $195,000. Senior managers reach $195,000 to $245,000. Directors of AI data governance at large enterprises can exceed $300,000 in total compensation. In North Charleston, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard at enterprise technology companies. Equity grants add 10 to 25% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $15,000 to $40,000 are common. Benefits often include compliance certification funding and professional conference attendance. And on the tax side: south Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.4%. North Charleston has no city income tax. The moderate state rate is offset by affordable housing and strong employer demand. When someone quotes you $163,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight aerospace manufacturing experience. Boeing and defense contractors in North Charleston pay nationally competitive rates for specialized engineering skills. The range for AI Data Governance Managers in North Charleston runs from $121,000 to $209,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Quantitative Analyst in North Charleston earns $162,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in North Charleston is Distinguished Engineer at $301,000
Common questions.
AI Data Governance Manager salary in other cities
Other salaries in North Charleston
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.