Chief Data Officer.
North Charleston.
$254,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$191,000 to $332,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Chief Data Officer pay in North Charleston ranges from $191,000 to $332,000 in 2026. The median is $254,000, 2% 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 $229,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$165,000
to $203,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$216,000
to $267,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$279,000
to $330,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$318,000
to $394,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $161,000 to the total package.
Base
$254,000
Equity
$86,000
Bonus
$55,000
Signing
$20,000
Estimated total: $415,000
How North Charleston compares
North Charleston, SC
$254,000
Cost of living: 6% below average
National Average
$260,000
North Charleston is $6,000 below
Chief Data Officer salary by city
Salary by role in North Charleston
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Chief Data Officer offer in North Charleston, understand the terrain. 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. Data maturity of the organization, regulatory complexity, and whether the CDO drives revenue versus compliance create wide pay variance. CDOs at companies monetizing data assets or building AI-powered products earn significantly more than those focused primarily on governance and regulatory compliance activities.
Directors of data science or analytics earn $165,000 to $220,000. VPs of data advance to $210,000 to $280,000. CDOs at mid-market companies make $240,000 to $310,000. CDOs at large enterprises or data-intensive tech companies reach $320,000 to $400,000 with total comp of $500,000 to $1.2 million. 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. Annual bonuses of 20 to 35% of base tied to data quality metrics, AI initiative success, and compliance milestones are standard. Equity grants at tech companies add $150,000 to $600,000 in annualized value. Some CDOs negotiate dedicated data infrastructure budgets. 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 $254,000, 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 Chief Data Officers in North Charleston runs from $191,000 to $332,000. 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 Chief Algorithm Officer in North Charleston earns $253,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in North Charleston is Distinguished Engineer at $301,000
Common questions.
Chief Data Officer 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.